Waterford nun is Ireland's oldest person
Sr Colette Hickey, who celebrated her 108th birthday earlier this year, is Ireland's oldest living person.
A Waterford nun is now the oldest person in Ireland, following the passing of a woman from Co Offaly, who died last week.
Sr Colette Hickey, celebrated her 108th birthday on January 31, this year, and is now the oldest person in the country.
Born Bridget Hickey, in Barracree, Ballinamult, Co Waterford, she joined the Good Shepherd Sisters in Cork City when she was just 17 years of age.
With her pioneering spirit, approximately 50 years ago, Sr. Colette established Edel House, which provides housing and support for women and children experiencing homelessness in Cork.
Continuing her legacy, the house continues to offer invaluable services to those in need.
Through her own commitment and drive, and through the ongoing work of those involved with the charity she founded, St Colette has transformed the lives of an extremely large number of people during her lifetime.
While she has lived away from County Waterford for the majority of her life, the Déise never left her, and she is extremely proud of where she comes from.
She grew up at the foot of the Comeragh Mountains and the people of the Touraneena and Ballymacrbry areas in Co Waterford are also very proud of what Sr Colette - one of their own - has achieved during her lifetime.
She is also held in extremely high regard among her order, the Good Shepherd Sisters, who described her as a visionary who planted the seed over 50 years ago for what developed into what is now known as Good Shepherd Cork.
The Good Shepherd order is renowned for its work with homeless women and children, and in St Colette they are blessed with someone who has a pioneering spirit.
Sr Colette has lived through an amazing number of Irish and global changes including: 10 popes; 10 Irish Presidents; 15 Taoisigh; World War 1; World War II; the Vietnam War; the end of Apartheid in South Africa; the collapse of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany; the end of the USSR; the moon landings; the Troubles; the Good Friday Agreement; three distinct Irish currency changes and through the transition of the Irish Free State into a democratic Republic.
From a sporting perspective, she is also one of the few people who lived through and can remember when Waterford won their two All-Ireland senior hurling titles.
