Celebrations were in full swing in west Belfast as one of The Irish News’s oldest readers marked her 100th birthday.
Family and friends of Catherine ‘Kitty’ Harriott gathered at her home in Norfolk Road on Tuesday to celebrate her milestone year.
Her grand-daughter Rachael Harriott said her grandmother had been inundated with gifts and cards and numerous visits from her beloved family members.
“There have been lots of family in and out seeing her for her birthday,” said Rachael.
“She hasn’t been well, but she has really picked up in typical style for granny, she’s as tough as old boots.”
Ahead of my Grannie’s 100th birthday tomorrow, reflecting on the beautiful article that appeared in @irish_news by @liam_grimley1 and photos by @MalMccann last year.
— Rachael Harriott (@rcb35) February 12, 2024
The paper was bought by my great Grannie McMahon, which Grannie reads to this day.
She loved this moment 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/UxHxGbsTaI
It comes just months after Catherine helped The Irish News celebrate the launch of its new-look paper when it recognised two of its oldest readers.
The west Belfast woman, who grew up in the Falls Road area, described how she had been reading The Irish News for most of her life.
She told of how “my mother always got The Irish News” adding that reading the newspaper “was passed down through the generations”.
The tradition continues on as Catherine’s son, David, buys her a copy of the paper and brings it to her every week from Monday to Friday.
Born on 13 February 1924 to Ellen and William McMahon in Belfast, Catherine was one of seven siblings and grew up on Ivy Street in the Lower Falls Road area.
Working in the Linen Mills and later in the ABC Cinema in Belfast city centre, she has six children and is also a grandmother of 15, a great-grandmother of 18 and a two-time great-great-grandmother.
Enjoying birthday cake and the company of her family on Tuesday, the centenarian said her secret to long life was to “just get on with things” and “enjoy yourself”.
