Lord of the Dance
110-year-old Irish woman reveals secret to long life: religion, fresh air and no alcohol
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110-year-old Irish woman reveals secret to long life: religion, fresh air and no alcohol

A WOMAN thought to be the oldest living Irish person on the planet has revealed the secret behind her long and healthy life. 

110-year-old Margaret Reed is thought to be the oldest living Irish person anywhere in the UK, Ireland and quite possibly the world. 

Born in a small village in Northern Ireland back in 1910, the mother-of-one celebrated her 110th birthday last Monday. 

While the current lockdown meant her extended family were not able to join her for the festivities, staff at the Burnham-on-Sea care home where she lives still marked the occasion. 

Speaking to the Burnham-on-Sea.com from her home at Priory Court in Somerset, Margaret was able to offer up some advice on how to stay fighting fit well past 100. 

Asked what was the secret to her impressive longevity, she revealed that "no drinking alcohol, plenty of fresh air, keeping busy and my religious beliefs” were all key components of her everyday life.

Her advice runs contrary to previous recommendations for a long and happy life, of course. 

Two women thought to be the oldest living identical twins in the UK previously cited “no sex and plenty of Guinness” as the secrets behind their long lives. 

A 104-year-old woman from Ireland, meanwhile, cited a hot toddy as her cure for all ailments. 

There was also the 106-year-old Irish woman who put her good sense of humour down as the secret to her long life 

And let’s not forget 112-year-old Grace Jones, who put it down to a nightly whiskey.