Donegal woman who was believed to be Ireland's oldest person has died aged 109

A WOMAN BELIEVED to be Ireland’s oldest person has died at her home in Co Donegal.

Ruby Druce, who was 109 years old, passed away peacefully yesterday evening at her niece Carmel’s home in Castlefinn.

Born in 1915, Mrs Druce lived life to the full and even had a party with cake for her 109th birthday on New Year’s Eve last.

She became known as Ireland’s oldest living person last August following the passing of Galway woman Phyllis Furness, who was also aged 109.

However, Mrs Druce never liked to be reminded of her increasing years and shrugged off any mention of her age.

A non-smoker and tee-totaller, she only ever had one sip of poitín and that was for medicinal purposes when she had a bad cold.

Mrs Druce lived through two World Wars and also two pandemics, even contracting the Spanish flu and then Covid in 2023.

The eldest of five children, she was born Ruby Crawford to mother and father Elizabeth and George.

She worked from the age of just 14 years at Porter’s Shirt Factory where she spent 48 years.

She married Jim Druce in 1956, but Jim died 14 years later.

Ruby had many loves in her life outside of her family and singer Daniel O’Donnell was one of them.

She was delighted when Daniel and wife Majella paid her a surprise visit in May last year to check in on her.

Ruby Druce (c) pictured with singer Daniel O'Donnell (l) and his wife Majella (r) last year Daniel O'Donnell Daniel O'Donnell

Ruby was the proud holder of no less than nine Presidential medals, which she loved to show off to visitors.

Each year her home would be flooded with birthday cards and well-wishers.

In 2019, Ruby decided she would like to go to the cinema at the ripe of age of 103 years to see Downton Abbey.

It marked a gap of almost 80 years since she had last been to the cinema, as she recalled last cycling to the cinema in 1944.

Never one to turn down an invitation, Ruby obliged by performing the official switch-on of the Castlefinn Christmas lights in 2022. 

Last year Ruby also lost her niece, Margo Butler, who had cared for her in Letterkenny for 10 years.

Following Margo’s passing, Ruby moved back to Castlefinn to live with her niece Carmel Martin.

Ruby is survived by a wide circle of nieces, one nephew, grand nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews.

Her obituary notice states that she died peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family.

Her funeral will take place on Sunday, 23 March, at 12pm in St. Mary’s Church, Castlefinn, followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery.

The family has asked for flowers only please, donations in lieu to Donegal Carers, care of Kennedy’s funeral directors or any family member.