While searching through the 1901 and 1911 Irish census today, I looked at the “Age + or – 5 years” search field and thought, “Hmm.”

Because, that’s the sound thinking makes.

I wondered, who was the oldest person enumerated in the entire census?

The winner is John McDonough of House 7 in Drimmeen, Errislannon, Galway who was 122 years old. Assuming his age was correct (ahem), he would have been born in 1779.

But don’t worry about old John – he’s got his 90 year old wife and 95 year old sister-in-law to take care of him.

There are:
9 people between the ages of 112 and 122
227 between the ages of 101 and 111
6,146 between the ages of 90 and 100

Various occupations of those not retired are “Labourer”, “Jobbing, Gardiner”, “Begging”, “Nurse”, “Farmer” and “Optician.”