Jack in 'great health' as he hits 100
JACK WOULFE from Kilmanihan, Brosna who celebrated his 100th birthday yesterday (Wednesday) is in his own words "in great health".
"I was born on the 9th December 1881 but I'm afraid I can only remember back as far as 1891," said a very alert Jack apologetically.
His first memory which goes back to that date is of a Munster Hurling final which took place in Abbeyfeale between Limerick and Kerry "and Kerry won but what's new about that," remarked Jack.
Obviously a big football and hurling fan, Jack can remember going to many matches as a boy and he played a few games himself.
"I remember seeing Kerry play in an All-ireland before there was a Croke Park. The match was in Clonturk Park in Dublin and it was a draw at full time so they played an extra quarter of an hour. Kerry won by two points."
One of the most important things he remembers about these trips was the difference in the value of the money.
"The train fare from Abbeyfeale to Dublin cost 10 shillings in 1928 and we could get into the match for one shilling," he recalled. "Then we would get a dinner in Parnell Square for two shillings so if I got a pound before leaving I'd still have money coming from Dublin."
Jack's parents were farming people who moved from Knocknagoshel to his present home in 1921. He had two sisters, Katie and Nellie and two brothers, Paddy and Jim. None of the family including Jack ever got married.
Although he won't admit to supporting any party Jack is very interested in politics and remembers a clash between Parnell and the renowned Fr. Casey from Abbeyfeale.
"Politics were very high in Kerry at the time of Parnell," said Jack. "Fr. Casey was a great man in Abbeyfeale at the time for fighting the landlords. But one day Parnell was going through Abbeyfeale on the train when it stopped, he went to say a few words out of the window to the people, but Fr. Casey got the women to throw things in at him" he said, adding "that was because he was friendly with Captain O'shea's wife."
He says that Parnell wasn't the only well known politician to visit Abbeyfeale and he remembers W.T. Cosgrave, Senior and Desmond Fitzgerald, "the present man's father" speaking at political meetings in the town.
"There was a Sinn Féin meeting and Kevin Barry's sister was making a speech when some fellow in the crowd shouted up that it would be no harm if a rope was put around her neck too. Wasn't that a terrible thing to say"
Asked what advice he would give to people who would like a long life, Jack said its is important to be generous because "it proves your heart is good".
