LISTEN: Funeral to take place of Maud Nicholl, Ireland's oldest woman

by Q Radio News

A service of thanksgiving will take place later for a County Antrim woman who passed away last week, aged 110.

Maud Nicholl from Randalstown was understood to be Ireland's oldest woman, until she passed away on Thursday afternoon.

The pensioner had been living independently until suffering a fall earlier this year.

Maud was born in 1909 in Ballymena and during her life, she saw five British Monarchs and two world wars. 

She never married and moved to the Woodgreen area near Ballymena in the early 1970s, where she lived before entering a nursing home in Randalstown, where she passed away.

Maud spoke to Q Radio just last year as she celebrated her 109th birthday and at the time, she was still living independently in the Woodgreen area.

She revealed she had a good, happy life and put it down to hard work, as well as "No smoking, no drinking and... no men!". 

Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Beth Adger lived near Maud. 

She said, “I am extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Maud Nicholl who just this year celebrated her 110th birthday.

"I will carry many fond memories of Maud, who was such a genuine, kind and funny woman. We lived close by for years and she had some stories to make you laugh.

"She also gave up work to care for her father and brother, showing what a kind heart she had, as well as her resilience.

"I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to Maud’s family, friends and carers who will certainly miss her and also cherish fond memories of the many years with her. Maud was a dedicated Christian lady who knew her bible cover to cover, and she is now in glory with her Saviour.”

Mourners will gather at Alan Francey's funeral church in Ballymena at 12 noon,  to say their final goodbyes.