Ruby Druce sparks the Christmas cheer in Castlefin

Donegal's oldest person, Ruby Druce, brought the festive cheer to Castlefin on Friday night.

The hearty 106-year-old switched on Castlefin's Christmas lights.

A big crowd turned out as Ruby, the fifth oldest person in Ireland, performed the official switch on.

Ruby will turn 107 on New Year's Eve and caught up on Friday with people from her home town. Local priest Fr Oliver Crilly also joined in the festivities at The Diamond as the border town got into the Christmas spirit.

The highlight was sprightly Ruby turning on the magical lights.

Now living with her niece, Margo Butler, in Letterkenny, Ruby still enjoys her visits back to Castlefin, especially her trips to McGlynn's Restaurant.

Ruby survived the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 and she has told how her secret to a long life is ‘plenty of walking, hard work and a daily cod liver oil capsule’.

She was the eldest of five children of George and Elizabeth Crawford. Two of her siblings, James and Mary Elizabeth were among the 23,000 Irish people who died in the Spanish Flu pandemic.
Ruby was employed for 48 years at Porter’s Shirt Factory and her husband, James Druce, died in 1970. The couple had been married in 1956.