Ireland's 'oldest person' dies at 108

Sarah Coyle, the woman who is believed to have been Ireland's oldest person, has died at the age of 108, her family has confirmed.

She died peacefully surrounded by her family yesterday evening, ten days before what would have been her 109th birthday.

Ms Coyle, whose maiden name was Byrne, was born on 24 July 1916 in Knockatomcoyle, Co Wicklow.

She was one of ten children and grew up in Coolkenno in Co Wicklow, near Tullow in Co Carlow, before moving to Dublin at the age of 17.

While in Dublin she cared for an elderly woman in Foxrock.

She subsequently moved to Drumcondra after marrying Tom Coyle in 1950.

Her husband died in 1986.

She moved to Castleknock in west Dublin in later life where she lived with her daughter Marian Galligan.

"She loved the simple things"

Ms Coyle lost her sight in 1957 at the age of 40 following a trauma to her head.

Her grandson Thomas Galligan explained that having been completely blind, Ms Coyle developed a great love of radio and loved listening to Liveline as well as Gay Byrne and Marian Finucane.

Despite her blindness, Ms Coyle was also a keen gardener.

"She was great with her hands and was great at laying guide wires in the garden. She loved plants and colours," he said.

"She loved the simple things."

Mr Galligan said that his grandmother remembered The Emergency and the time of rations that came with it.

She also remembered the Black and Tans and had a clear memory of seeing their distinctive uniforms.

Ms Coyle had a total of eight presidential medals, her grandson said, which are received each year by those who reach the age of 100 and over.

She had two other siblings who also lived to over the age of 100; her brother Andy who died before Ms Coyle and her sister Lily who is 103 and lives in Birmingham.

Ms Coyle is remembered by her two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.