John's 100th birthday greetings from President
and Queen 20.01.11

by Linda McGrory IT’S not everybody gets birthday cards from two heads of state. But Inishowen’s John Sweeney has celebrated his 100th birthday with best wishes from both Irish President Mary McAleese and Queen Elizabeth II. John marked his milestone birthday this week surrounded by family and friends in the Sean Tí pub, Greencastle. He received the President's letter and the Queen's birthday card because, although British-born, he currently resides in Ireland. Born in Scotland on January 18, 1911, John was educated in his father's native Brockagh in the Co Donegal Gaeltacht. As a teenager he returned to Glasgow where he trained as a plumber and was a fireman during WWII. He lived in the Scottish city for most of his long life after marrying New Jersey-born sweetheart Margaret Stevenston. John was Margaret's full-time carer for 11 years before she died in 1983.

The plucky centenarian left Scotland four years ago at the age of 96 when his only son Danny, 67, persuaded him to come and live with him and his Donegal-born wife Agatha, now deceased, in Drumaweir, Greencastle. The hale and hearty 100-year old puts his longevity down to a frequent glass of stout and a puff of his pipe. He kept his lean, wiry physique by walking four miles a day well into his 90s. "Time passes on. It's been a happy life and I had a wonderful wife," beamed John, who was nattily dressed for his birthday in a grey wool three-piece suit and purple tie. "I liked to go out for a walk,

Centenarian John Sweeney pictured with his 100th birthday greetings from Irish President Mary McAleese and Queen Elizabeth II.

stop to talk to people and smoke my pipe." John's only concession to old age is a hearing aid. He also likes to speak a smattering of the Irish language. Relatives and close friends, some of whom who travelled from Glasgow and Cornwall for the celebrations, heard John described as a "modest, unassuming man who was always full of fun". Still good on his feet, he celebrated by waltzing some of the women around the floor in the the Sean Tí to the strains of musician Neil Crossan. His proud son said he couldn't have had a better father and isn't surprised at his long life given his laid-back nature and love of singing and dancing. "He was very good to me. He's always been happy with his lot. He never got uptight about things and he never worried too much." Danny also revealed that his father gets a vitamin B12 injection every three months. He also recounted how, when his father was four years old, one of his legs got caught in the wheel of a horse-drawn cart used to clean the streets of Glasgow. "His leg was broken in four places and the surgeon wanted to amputate it but my grandfather pleaded with him to save the leg. "It's amazing that even after that, he went on to play secondary, juvenile football in Glasgow in his 20s and played in a cup final at Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh." The 100 year old retired plumber was also famed for his occasional use of a plug of chewing gum to fix water leaks. John is €2,540 richer this week thanks to the President's Centenarian's Bounty but he received only the telegram and card from the Queen. "We shook the Queen's card but nothing fell out," quipped Danny. John has lived for the past year in a nursing home in Carrowmenagh and twice weekly visits the HSE-run day care centre in Moville where he's popular with staff and the other elderly visitors. His son says he looks forward to celebrating even more milestone anniversaries with his beloved dad. "He could go on for a good while yet," he said. * What the birthday greetings said: President McAleese: "May you be surrounded today by the warmth of happy memories, secure in the knowledge that you continue to make this world a better place for all who love you. I am delighted to send my warmest personal congratulations and most sincere good wishes." Queen Elizabeth: "I am so pleased to know you are celebrating your one hundredth birthday on January 18, 2011. I send my congratulations and best wishes to you on such a special occasion." For more photos of John's 100th birthday celebrations click here .

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