Ireland’s oldest landlady, Maura Hallinan, says hard work and putting the customers first in her family pub, The KLM bar, has helped her live to the ripe old age of 100.
The Ballincollig woman, celebrated her 100th birthday in style last week, spending her centenarian bounty from the President of Ireland at Hayfield Manor in Cork with her nearest and dearest.
Maura, who was speaking on the Neil Prendeville show on Cork’s Red FM was working behind the bar up until recently but poor health has seen her slow down.
She said: "I was pulling pints in Nana’s (a bar on Douglas street which is ran by Maura’s grandson) but more recently I had to retire as I am finding it hard to get around with my poor legs."
She began her career behind the bar in 1968 when she returned from the UK with her husband and bought The KLM bar on the Lower Glanmire Road in Cork, RSVP Live reports.
The couple worked hard and eventually began to reap the rewards but sadly her husband died in 1977 leaving Maura and her family managing the business.
She said: “It is a tough life, we worked very hard but we got there in the end.”
The pub was called after three of Maura’s daughters, Kathleen, Lydia and Mary and today, Mary runs the bar keeping the family tradition going while her grandson Stephen Hackett runs Nana’s bar.
Maura may have said the secret to a long and happy life is hard work but previously admitted she never had a tipple with the customers when she was working.
She said: "I have never drank when I was and am behind the bar and I never drank until my children were reared - that they could go to school and things like that."
The incredible 100-year-old, who is believed to be Ireland’s oldest landlady, had eight children, two of whom passed away, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She is so hale and hearty, you never know, you may see her behind the bar, pulling pints, in the very near future.
