Obituary: Alphonsus Corless, Ireland’s oldest man and a pharmacist who was well-known for his kindness

Alphonsus Corless, who has died at the age of 106, was a highly respected pharmacist, known for his integrity, kindness, love of music and his deep faith.

With 14 great-grandchildren, he would have been 107 this coming May, and held the record of being Ireland’s oldest man until his death on March 1.

He was born in Kinvara, Co Galway, on May 23, 1918, almost six months before World War I ended. He was one of 14 children, 11 of whom survived beyond the age of 16, due to the tuberculosis which was rampant at the time.

His parents Michael and Cecilia had eloped to New York where they were married in St Patrick’s Cathedral in 1902. According to family legend, Cecilia’s parents had wanted her to marry into the gentry, but she declared Michael Corless was the only man for her. A priest from another parish gave the couple the money to buy a ticket on a transatlantic liner.

The couple returned to Kinvara, where Michael became a merchant and also farmed, ensuring his children could avail of educational opportunities. Alphonsus went to primary school locally and then to Blackrock College in Dublin.

There, he excelled in his studies, as well as in music and sport. He played the piano, and also represented his school, along with Leinster — and his home community of Kinvara — in hurling.

Four of his siblings became nuns while a brother became a priest. Alphonsus spent one year at a seminary, but realised it was not for him.

An opportunity came up to train as a pharmacist at an apothecary practice in Loughrea, Co Galway. The training included exams and meant becoming licensed to compound different ingredients for medical purposes. He qualified in 1944.

After a year in Loughrea, he moved to O’Reilly’s pharmacy on Merrion Row in Dublin and he took locum positions in Donegal, Tipperary and Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, before settling in Carlow town.

He was at a tennis club "hop" in Carlow when he met Beatty Norton, who had been working in the bank. Coincidentally, her parents, both from east Galway, had also eloped to get married — in their case, to England, where her father became a cattle dealer. She had been sent to boarding school in Ireland.

They were married in 1946 and had a family of six children. After he took over McNally’s pharmacy in Carlow, Alphonsus renamed it and built up a successful practice. He was known for his quiet kindness.

In at least one case, he continued to supply medications for a very sick child to a family who were not able to pay. Years later, the adult returned to thank him. In addition to running the Corless Pharmacy in Carlow, he qualified as an optician. He sold the pharmacy in 1990 and he and Beatty moved to Taylor’s Hill in Galway.

His heart had always been in the west, he took the family to Spiddal every summer for holidays.

He became very involved with the church, singing in the choir in three different churches which he attended.

He took up Tai chi, and went bowling in his 80s with Beatty at Salthill Bowling Club. Up to his 90s, he was also one of the regular Salthill sea swimmers at Blackrock tower.

Beatty was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2001, and Alphonsus cared for her at home until shortly before she died.

His own health was good, and he only surrendered his driving licence, voluntarily, when he reached his 100th birthday. At a party to celebrate reaching a century, he was asked what may have contributed to his longevity. "Prayer, a good wife, hard work, games, walking, reading and, most importantly, holy mass, faith and trust in God, his son Jesus and mother Mary," was his reply.

It was around that time that he had his first major fall, but he was able to stay at home with the support of carers and family. He was known to pray up to five times a day, but also liked to play Scrabble with his carers who came from Uganda, Nigeria, Brazil and beyond. He had received six medals from President Michael D Higgins by his last birthday last May.

Alphonsus Corless was pre-deceased by his wife Beatty and is survived by his children Al, Bernard, Catherine (Taaffe), Cecily (Corrigan), Mary (Bailey) and Michael, by his 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren and extended family.