Norah Breslin's 100th birthday celebration

Norah watches her great-grandchildren blow out her birthday candles. 

A celebration of Norah Breslin's 100th birthday on Friday was an outpouring of appreciation and love for someone who made an impact on everyone that she met, writes Brian Byrne. The event was held at Killashee Hotel, attended by family, friends, and members of the Brannockstown and Kilcullen communities. 

Through the evening, many examples were recounted of the guest of honour's fierce love for her family, her service in faith to the community, and her many practical initiatives to help others through life.

Norah's seventh son, Martin, opened the tributes to her, providing first a short résumé of her childhood in an English coal-mining town, where her hard work, diligence, and intelligence earned her a scholarship to graduate school. "At sixteen, she was the organist for the community church, and later did her bit for the war effort, making transformers for airplane ignition systems." Norah married Dan Breslin a month before her 25th birthday.

Noting that reaching the age of 100 is 'an incredible longevity milestone, that commands respect', Martin said that longevity alone is not something that inspires, but how somebody lives can do so. "She raised 11 children. She supported my father's business. She carried responsibility wherever it needed to be carried and she did so consistently, quietly and without complaint." Speaking of her faith, he said it was expressed in commitment and service to others. "Decade after decade, she was church organist, director of the choir, giving her time, talent and energy to parish life. She was there for the most difficult times in people's lives, helping to knit people together by stepping forward when something needed to be done." The celebrations of the evening, he said, were simply an acknowledgement of a life lived with humility and kindness, where Norah contributed to people and causes beyond herself. "We are celebrating the character of the lady, how she lived the principles and the values that she chose to make her own — which, we might note, are the same values and principles that anyone can make their own."

Arriving for the event with her son Martin.

A busy mix of great love, hard work, and constant care was how Norah's daughter Cathy described her life, each day beginning with a cup of tea and after that planning around the schedule of the family. "You were in a busy household, and always put our needs first, before your own. I remember you often staying up late at night to sew, iron clothes, sometimes hanging curtains, and making preparations for the next day." 

Cathy described a mother's love as 'an unyielding force', combining sacrifice, protection, and patience, that puts a child's safety, happiness, and well-being above all else. "Mammy, your love has remained constant throughout our lives, through our mistakes, our failures, and difficult times. You taught us music and storytelling, and I have vivid memories of you teaching us how to preserve and store apples, making jams, and making our clothes." On Sundays, Norah would attend two masses, playing the organ in Gormanstown church and then joining Sister Lelia in the choir in Kilcullen. "The younger crew would accompany you to Gormanstown, and you would let me or Paddy drive the car on the way home. Sometimes that didn't go so well, and we would turn into the driveway at fifty miles an hour, but you took everything in your stride."

Cathy also recalled her mother's fortitude as her children emigrated to find work in the UK, Germany, and the United States. "You always encouraged our independence, and you bravely waved goodbye. You taught us resilience and how to keep going forward, even when life disappoints and changes our course." Recalling one of her own difficult times, when she phoned Norah "because I knew you would listen", Cathy was told simply 'keep hope alive'. "Those words rang true, and I still call on them from time to time."

Norah's grandson Daniel, whose father Donal died when he was very young and who recently lost his sister Lorna, said his grandmother's 'greatest work' had been her children and the effort she had put into them. He described how she had supported his mother during their dark times. "When my Dad passed, your home actually became myself and Lorna's home for a couple of years. Mum was really struggling, she really wasn't well. Granny stepped in and offered to take us in. Mum says that has stayed with her for life." Efforts to make Christmases in Brannockstown special after Donal died remain in Daniel's memory. "They put extra love and care to make them special, we can never forget them. They made the worst of times something magical, and that was unbelievable." Describing Norah as a gardener whose greatest garden has been her family, he recalled the relevant adage that 'tend to your garden and the garden tends back to you'. "That's what I see in how much her own children are nurturing her now, looking after her. Granny is, I think, that kind of star that we all unite under. Those Christmases, these gatherings, they bring us all together."

Noel Clare spoke for the community, recalling that as a youngster he was 'almost adopted' into the Breslin family. "We all have great memories of the friendship, of the good times we had, particularly in our teenage years. It didn't matter who you were or what you did — and, God knows, we did some wild things — we were always welcome and always accepted." He recalled Norah's involvement in setting up a Brannockstown branch of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, that became a tremendous focal point for local women, including his own mother. "It wasn't so much about the skills they were learning as it was the coming together, the community, and getting out of isolation." She also started a youth group, which became a very successful outlet for young people. "I wouldn't be standing here tonight, I think, if I hadn't had that induction into the world of community. And I think it probably helped lead me into the career that I had in teaching for so many years."

Noel also touched on the Community Capers through the 1970s, where Norah Breslin was hugely involved with the Brannockstown area. "I remember the first Capers, and the day that Norah, John Brady, and I went to Dublin to look for music score sheets. We came back with a load of Percy French songbooks, which started a love of Percy French in my own life that I still have today." Noel concluded with a reflection of the 'ripple effect' which Norah has had on those around her. "She touched so many people, and they in turn go on to work with other people and enrich their lives as well. What she has done will continue forever after to enrich not just the communities of Brannockstown and Kilcullen, but much further afield."

With her sons Joseph and John, Norah chats to longtime friend and choir colleague Gertrude Coffey.

Speaking for the Kilcullen Church Choir, PJ Lydon remarked on the more than 60 years of completely voluntary service which Norah had given to the parish, which in recent years was recognised by the awarding of a Benemerenti Medal by Pope Francis. "Today we honour not just your years of service, but your impact on all of us. Many of us learned harmonies from you, some of us learned discipline. All of us learned kindness and dedication. You shaped the sound of the choir, and the spirit of the parish, and the memories of generations."

Entertainment for the evening included Oliver Callan, who, in the personas of two Irish Taoisigh, two British prime ministers, and four US presidents, gently 'roasted' various members of the Breslin family. The Celtic Tenors then provided a wonderful medley of traditional Irish songs and classical favourites.

Following that, some of Norah's great-grandchildren — the grandchildren of her daughter Philomena — helped blow out four cakes with a total of 100 candles. But even with those extinguished, the light of the occasion shone on.

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