FIVE generations of the Ireland family recently gathered in Bulahdelah to celebrate the arrival of the newest member of the family, two month old Ashton.

With the latest addition, Jack and Thora Ireland now have eight children, 23 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren.

Mrs Ireland said she always wanted a big family.

“I planned the lot,” she said.

“Originally, it was just going to be five children, but they were beautiful so I decided to have more.”

With so many names to remember, it would understandable if one or two were occasionally forgotten, but Mrs Ireland confidently stated, “Names aren’t an issue.”

“They just come to me,” she said.

“I actually pray that I remember all the great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren’s names, and fortunately I get most of them right.”

Mrs Ireland has been married for 72 years and said she first noticed her husband Jack when playing tennis as a 13-years-old.

“I saw Jack putting on his shoes and I said, ‘That’s the man I’m going to marry,” Mrs Ireland told News Of The Area.

“Seventy-nine years later, I am very thankful to have a happy marriage to a wonderful man and very grateful to have such a close family.”

Mrs Ireland is currently organising a family reunion planned for October.

“It will be really good to have the entire family together and we’re all looking forward to it,” she said.

 

By Daniel SAHYOUN