Edel House founder is now Ireland's oldest person at 108

The founder of a Cork emergency accommodation for women and children has become the oldest person in Ireland.

Sr Colette Hickey has become Ireland’s oldest living person at the age of 108 following the recent death of Offaly woman Eileen ‘Nell’ Hynes at 109 years old.

Since 1972, Edel House has been providing emergency accommodation for women and children, some of whom were in abusive home situations, offering a range of supports to assist residents to move on and rebuild their lives.

Sr Colette, who joined the Good Shepherd Sisters more than 90 years ago at the age of 17, was named the first Cork Person of the Year in 1993 in recognition of her founding and running of Edel House and her track record of providing immense charitable contributions across Cork city and county.

Manus O’Callaghan, Cork Person of the Year Organiser, said: “I’ll always remember when she told me that ‘God must have forgotten me, he's not called me home’. I know I speak for all of the people of Cork when I say that God has enough saints in heaven… we need some of our down here.”

The 1993 award was presented by then-taoiseach Albert Reynolds, who had travelled directly from London after signing the Downing Street Agreement with John Major, which led to the Good Friday Agreement a short few years later.