Mr Blake, Ballygireen – 1910

Lake Wakatip Mail Iss 2775, 13th July 1910 p4
A well-authenticated case of extreme old age has been brought to light in connection with the death of Paddy Blake, in the Corofin Union Hospital, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. Paddy was a labourer, but did not work regularly, spending most of his time roving about from one house to another. He was born at Ballygireen, Parish of Kilnasoolagh, Co. Clare,

ago, on St Patrick’s Day.

His grandfather was Peter Blake, who fought at the Siege of Limerick in 1691, and is said to have attained the great age of 120 years. Paddy lived, when a lad, with an uncle, another Peter Blake, at Ing, in the Parish of Kilmaleery. He married twice, and migrated to Corofin about the year 1861. Paddy had a clear recollection of events that happened a hundred years ago, and remembered most of the scholars who attended the old Latin School held by Bishop O’Shaughncssy at Newmarket-on-Fergus. He went to see Daniel O’Connell when passing through Bunratty Pike on his way to Ennis to the great election of ’28, and remembered the red flag hoisted on Bunratty Castle by Mr Tom Studdert, who refused to let the Liberator pass until he had paid the “pike money.” or toll. It was after this incident that the buyers refused to attend the old fair of Bunrattv, which consequently ceased to exist. Paddy used to admit he was thirty years old at that time, but, as he never liked to be considered old,” he was certainly some years older than he admitted. Paddy Blake entered the Corofin Hospital in September, 1908, and died there on March 12, 1910. He was an inveterate smoker.