|
|
It’s BaNANAs...
21.07.13
Siblings have an
incredible SIX grannies
by Linda McGrory
A YOUNG brother and
sister think they're really lucky because they have
an astonishing SIX grannies to spoil them.
Ryan Anthony (6) and little sister Millie (5) from
Sappagh, Muff get to enjoy good times with their mum
Louise's mother and their dad Rick's mother. But
incredibly, all of Louise and Rick's grandmothers
are still living too - giving their children a
‘gran’ total of two grannies and FOUR
great-grannies. |
 |
Rick and Louise Anthony from Sappagh,
Muff, with their children, Ryan (6) and Millie (5)
surrounded by their many grannies and
great-grannies. In descending order from top left
are Rick’s mother Pamela Anthony (53) known as
‘Granny Pamela’; his paternal grandmother Marie
Anthony (80), known as ‘Nan’ and his maternal
grandmother, Anna Kennedy (82), known as ‘Granny
Anna’.
In descending order from top right are Louise’s
mother Fiona Doherty (56) known as ‘Nana’; her
paternal grandmother Liza Doherty (86), known as
‘Granny Doherty’ and her maternal grandmother,
Maggie Irwin (89), known as ‘Granny’. |
"Any time we tell
people our kids have six grannies, they're
gob-smacked. Young children these days often have
their two grannies and maybe one great-granny still
alive but nobody seems to have all six. I believe
it’s very rare," said Louise (32).
"Ryan and Millie love it especially with all the
presents they get at birthdays, Easter and
Christmas. They're very spoilt by all their
grannies."
The siblings' incredible list of grandmothers and
great-grandmothers runs as follows: Louise’s mother
Fiona Doherty (56) and Fiona’s mother Maggie Irwin
(89) who live in Muff. Louise’s paternal granny is
Liza Doherty (86) from Trillick, Buncrana.
Meanwhile, 30-year old Rick's mother is Pamela
Anthony (53) from Claudy, Co Derry while his
grandmothers are Marie Anthony (80) from Derry city
and Anna Kennedy (82) from Claudy, Co Derry.
And with so many grannies and great-grannies around,
it's a challenge knowing what to call them all.
"We have to call them different names. My mother is
known as ‘Nana’, her mum is called ‘Granny’ and my
father Patrick's mother is called ‘Granny Doherty’,"
added full-time mum Louise.
"Rick's mother is called ‘Granny Pamela’, her mother
is known as ‘Granny Anna’ and Rick's father's mother
is called ‘Nan’." Ryan who goes to Scoil Naomh Bríd
and Millie who starts the school in September, also
have two granddads and one great-granddad.
Louise says her family feels privileged to be
surrounded by so many kind and caring women with
hundreds of years' experience between them.
"When people hear how many grannies we have between
us they expect us to be only 18 or 19 years of age
but we're in our thirties so that makes it even more
unusual. We feel very lucky to still have them all
around," she beamed. |
|
