Mavis marks a century of memories

As Ireland was electing its 10th President on Friday October 24, a woman who has seen all of those 10 heads of state – and met one of them, Mary McAleese, was celebrating her 100th birthday.

Mavis Davis, matriarch of a large clan, was joined by family members from across Westmeath, Meath, Dublin, and beyond, to mark her century, beginning with a Mass at Ss Peter’s and Paul’s Church, Clonmellon, and continuing with a gathering in the Darnley Lodge Hotel, Athboy.

She was born Teresa Renehan at 25 Lower Mayor Street in Dublin, and her sister began calling her Mavis for reasons long since forgotten. The name stuck, and over time it became the one everyone knew and loved her by. Today, to her family, she is most lovingly known as ‘Granny’.

The daughter of James and Mary Ann Renehan, originally from Tipperary, Mavis was one of nine children in a bustling, close-knit household. In her early years the family left the city for the countryside, first moving to Ballyboy in Athboy and then to Killallon. There, Mavis worked alongside her father on the farm, and attended Killallon Primary School, where she made her First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

Later, she went on to board at Mount Sackville Secondary School, where she played hockey and learned piano. She returned to Killallon, where she met Joe Davis of Clongowney.

They married in Killallon Church on October 3, 1945, and had eight children, six of whom survived to adulthood, John, Jody, Jim, Mary (McGowan), Jacinta (Brady), and the late Bernadette (Masterson), a legacy that has since grown to include 25 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.

Mavis poured herself into every corner of family and community life. She spent most of her life, more than 75 years, living in Archerstown, where she was the postmistress, knitted countless jumpers and cardigans, cooked with love and somehow still found time to hold down other jobs. She finally retired at the age of 90 after working for many years in Fr Moore’s parochial house.

A passionate supporter of Brownstown hurling, Mavis was often found cheering on the sidelines, first for Joe, then for her sons. She helped raise funds for the club and joined other local women in hosting tea parties, complete with balloons, fancy tablecloths, cakes, and sandwiches. Coming up to the county finals, there was always great excitement, late-night baking sessions and endless pots of tea. That passion for sport lives on through her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, many of whom still play with Brownstown hurling club today.

Mavis also helped the local Brownstown Drama Group, where she could be found quietly keeping everything going, brewing tea, buttering bread for the sandwiches, and doing whatever needed to be done, always without fuss or fanfare.

Mavis’s life has also been one of deep and unwavering faith. A devoted member of the Young Priests Society, she helped organise pilgrimages to Knock for altar servers. And always, there was her sense of elegance and style. Her glamour never overshadowed her humility, but added to a quiet dignity.

It was a special celebration for a woman who is the heart of her family, a pillar of her parish, whose legacy will ripple through generations to come.