Death of Galway centenarian who was fifth sibling to reach 100th birthday
She may not have lived long enough to be officially handed a Guinness Book of World Records certificate for her astonishing genes, but East Galway native Madge Fanning certainly did get to experience a brush with fame in her 100-year milestone.
Madge died peacefully on Monday morning in the Blackrock Clinic after a short illness. She had been cared for at her home in Skerries, Co Dublin, by two of her sons, Joe and Noel.
She is survived by just one sibling, the baby, Sheila, is 97 and living in a nursing home in Portumna. Madge’s birthday in May meant she was the fifth sibling in the Clarke family of Castlenancy, Mullagh to reach 100 – the first family in the world apparently to do so.
Her mother Margaret also managed to achieve the astonishing feat, having only succumbed at age 101 due to a car crash. She had 79 grandchildren.
The thirteen Clarke children - nine boys and four girls - their total lives clocked up a mind-blowing 1,200 years.
Her brother Joe Clarke was the first to reach the milestone on January 1, 2001. He was followed by Charlie in 2002, Pat in 2003 and Jimmy in 2006. Jack (also known as Sean) died in 1999 just a few months short of his centenary. Hubie died in 2002 at age 88 – the same year which claimed Joe and Charlie.
Following the article on her centenary in the Connacht Tribune, Madge became something of a celebrity. Her family’s remarkable story of longevity was featured on RTE’s Nationwide, Radio One and in several national newspapers and magazines.
She was also interviewed by Lunchbox films for a documentary on centenarians which will be released next year. The producers were planning on interviewing 30 centenarians.
See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.