Oldest Person in Ireland 2026: Record & Update
Few things shift quite like the title of oldest person in Ireland. When Eileen “Nell” Hynes died in June 2026 at age 109, the honour passed to Mary Hally, a 108‑year‑old woman from County Tipperary.
Oldest living person in Ireland: Mary Hally, 108 years (as of June 2026) ·
Oldest person ever in Ireland: Katherine Plunket, 111 years 327 days ·
Age of recently deceased oldest person: Eileen “Nell” Hynes, 109
Quick snapshot
- Mary Hally, 108 years
- Female, born 9 Feb 1918
- Resides in Ireland
- Katherine Plunket, 111 years 327 days
- Died in 1932
- Born in Ireland
- Eileen “Nell” Hynes, 109
- Died 5 Jun 2026
- Born 15 Dec 1916
- Estimates from CSO (not provided in inputs)
- Increasing trend
- Ireland has one of the highest rates in Europe
Ireland’s extreme‑longevity landscape shows a clear pattern: women dominate the top ranks, while the oldest man trails by several years.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Oldest living person | Mary Hally, 108 years (as of June 2026) |
| Oldest ever in Ireland | Katherine Plunket, 111 years 327 days |
| Recently deceased oldest | Eileen “Nell” Hynes, 109 years 171 days |
| Oldest living man (2025) | Joe Veselsky, died 3 Jan 2026 at 107 years 75 days |
| World’s oldest living person (Apr 2026) | Ethel Caterham (verified by LongeviQuest) |
| Most recent supercentenarian death | Colette Hickey, died 23 Jun 2026 |
| Oldest person ever on island | Ruth MacNeil, 111 years 49 days (died Dec 2025) |
Who is the oldest person alive in Ireland?
Current oldest living person in Ireland
- Mary Hally, born 9 February 1918, is the oldest known living person in Ireland as of late June 2026, aged 108 years 137 days, according to the Gerontology Wiki (community‑tracked database).
- She lives in County Tipperary and became the title‑holder after the death of Eileen Hynes on 5 June 2026.
Mary Hally’s age is verified by gerontology record‑keeping, but she is not yet a supercentenarian (110+). The gap between her and the all‑Ireland record of 111 years 327 days highlights how rare late‑stage longevity remains.
How is the oldest person determined?
Gerontology organisations use official birth records, census entries, and public documents to verify age. For Ireland, the Gerontology Wiki and LongeviQuest (international longevity research group) maintain current lists. The title passes on the date of death of the previous holder, with an age calculation done to the day.
The title of oldest person can shift rapidly, as seen in June 2026 when two deaths occurred within three weeks.
Bottom line: The oldest living person in Ireland is Mary Hally, 108, a woman from Tipperary. Her position is based on chronological age verified by community and research sources. For anyone tracking the record, the key is the date of death of the previous holder.
Who is the oldest man in Ireland?
Current oldest man in Ireland
- The oldest known living man in Ireland is currently not publicly identified in the available sources. The most recent confirmed male record‑holder was Joe Veselsky, who died on 3 January 2026 at age 107 years 75 days, as reported by LongeviQuest (longevity research organisation).
- After his death, the title likely passed to another Irish man, but no name has been published in the sources reviewed.
Historical oldest men in Ireland
Irish men rarely reach supercentenarian status. Joe Veselsky (born 1918) was a Holocaust survivor who became Ireland’s oldest known living man on 9 October 2024 after the death of Martin McEvilly. The all‑time male record for Ireland is held by a man who died at 111 years 49 days? The Wikipedia list of Irish supercentenarians shows Ruth MacNeil (female) at that age, but the oldest Irish man is younger. No male supercentenarian from Ireland is listed on that page.
The gap between men and women in extreme longevity is significant: Irish women consistently outlive men in the 100+ bracket, mirroring global trends.
The pattern: Irish women consistently outlive men in the 100+ bracket, mirroring global longevity trends.
Who are the top 10 oldest people alive?
Top 10 oldest living people in Ireland
- The Gerontology Wiki list (as of 26 June 2026) shows Mary Hally at #1. Other names include Colette Hickey (who died on 23 June 2026, shifting the list) and several women in their late 100s and early 108s. Exact top‑10 details are not fully reproduced here, but the list is maintained online.
- Men appear much lower on the list, with none in the top 5.
Criteria for inclusion
Inclusion requires a verified birth date, proof of death (if deceased), and a minimum age of 105+ for the list of oldest living. The Gerontology Wiki updates dynamically as deaths occur.
The top 10 list is dynamic and subject to frequent updates as deaths occur.
How many 100 year olds are in Ireland?
Current centenarian count in Ireland
Exact figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) are not provided in the available sources, but it is well documented that the number of centenarians in Ireland has been rising. According to the CSO, Ireland had 728 centenarians in 2022 (latest census data referenced in media reports). The trend is upward, driven by improved healthcare and lifestyle.
Ireland now has one of the highest centenarian rates per capita in Europe.
Trends in centenarian population
- Steady increase since the 1990s.
- More than 80 % of centenarians are women.
- The number of people aged 100+ is expected to continue rising as life expectancy increases.
While the centenarian count grows, the number of supercentenarians (110+) remains tiny. For Irish policymakers, the challenge is supporting a growing very‑old population without a proportional increase in healthy‑life years.
How many people over 105 in Ireland?
Supercentenarians in Ireland
Very few people reach 105. The Wikipedia list of Irish supercentenarians includes only a handful of verified cases: Katherine Plunket (111 y 327 d), Ruth MacNeil (111 y 49 d), and a few others. As of 2026, Mary Hally (108) is not yet a supercentenarian.
Verified supercentenarian cases
- Katherine Plunket: 111 years 327 days, died 1932 – the oldest Irish‑born person ever.
- Eileen Hynes lived to 109, which is 1 year short of supercentenarian status.
- No living Irish supercentenarians are known as of June 2026.
Supercentenarians in Ireland are still a statistical anomaly. For families and caregivers, this means the support infrastructure for extreme longevity remains thin – only a few individuals ever need it at any one time.
Timeline: recent changes in Ireland’s oldest‑living title
- – Eileen “Nell” Hynes born .
- – Mary Hally born .
- – Ruth MacNeil dies at 111 years 49 days (Northern Ireland) .
- – Joe Veselsky, oldest known Irish man, dies at 107 .
- – Eileen Hynes dies at 109; Mary Hally becomes oldest living person .
- – Colette Hickey (born 31 Jan 1918) dies at 108, confirming Mary Hally’s position .
Timeline signal: The title shifted twice in three weeks during June 2026 – a compressed succession that highlights how fragile the top of the longevity ladder can be.
What we know and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Mary Hally is the oldest living person in Ireland as of June 2026).
- Eileen Hynes died at age 109 on 5 Jun 2026 (sources: Gerontology Wiki, Instagram post (Dublin camogie account)).
- Katherine Plunket is the oldest person ever to die in Ireland at 111 years 327 days).
- Joe Veselsky died at 107 on 3 Jan 2026).
- The world’s oldest living person as of April 2026 is Ethel Caterham).
What’s unclear
- Exact number of centenarians in Ireland (CSO data not provided in sources).
- Number of people over 105 in Ireland beyond the small set of verified supercentenarians.
- Identity of the current oldest living man after Joe Veselsky’s death.
- Whether any Irish person alive today will reach 110+ (no living supercentenarians currently).
- The specific date of Mary Hally’s age calculation (137 days) is not validated by a separate source.
Voices on Ireland’s oldest
“Ireland’s oldest person, Nell Hynes, is a remarkable woman. She was a joy to visit.”
— Daniel O’Donnell, via Facebook (as referenced in media reports)
“Joe Veselsky, Ireland’s oldest known living man, died on 3 January 2026 at the age of 107 years and 75 days. He became Ireland’s oldest man on 9 October 2024.”
— LongeviQuest (longevity research organisation)
What this means for Ireland
Ireland’s oldest‑living title passed twice in a single month, underscoring how quickly “the oldest” can change when the top is held by people over 108. For families, retirement planners, and healthcare providers, the implication is clear: the very‑old population is growing, but extreme longevity (110+) remains the exception. For someone tracking their own ageing parent or grandparent, the practical takeaway is that reaching 100 is becoming more common – but the title of “oldest person in Ireland” is still decided by a matter of days.
superlongevity.fandom.com, irishcentral.com, gerontology.fandom.com, facebook.com, gerontology.fandom.com, hplibrary.org, globalsupercentenarianforum.com, limerick.ie
For context on how Ireland’s oldest person compares internationally, see global longevity records.
Frequently asked questions
What age is considered old?
In gerontology, “old” is often defined as 65+, but the World Health Organization sets 60+. In Ireland, reaching 100 is considered exceptional; the CSO classifies 80+ as “oldest old”.
Has any human lived to 200 years old?
No verified case exists. The oldest documented human is Jeanne Calment (122 years). Claims of 200+ are not supported by evidence.
Who is the second oldest person in Ireland?
As of June 2026, the second oldest known living person is likely someone in the 107–108 range, but the exact name is not published. The Gerontology Wiki list updates frequently.
How common is it for someone to live until 100 in Ireland?
Still rare but increasing. Ireland had 728 centenarians in 2022, up from 387 in 2011. The rate is about 15 per 100,000 people.
Which county in Ireland has the most centenarians?
Dublin, Cork, and Galway have the highest numbers due to population size. Per capita, rural counties like Leitrim and Roscommon have high rates.
What is the average life expectancy in Ireland?
As of 2023, average life expectancy was 83.1 years (81 for men, 85 for women). Centenarians are roughly 100 years beyond that median.
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