Centenarian Martha, from the Emerald Isle, is a total gem

Born on June 12, 1918 in Booragh, co Donegal, she recently welcomed Provost William Hendrie to her home at Frank Downie House to help celebrate her birthday.

Kate Craigon, manager at Frank Downie House, told the Post: "Martha keeps very well and enjoys visits from her friend Helen and family.

"She's fun and can reminisce about her time in Ireland. She's a pleasant wee lady and enjoys her friends at Frank Downie."

Born to Reid Bovaird and Mary Jane Russell, Martha had two brothers and a sister, all of whom she has outlived. They all attended the local Winatole School before there were separate primary or secondary schools.

She was raised on the family farm and would milk the cows and feed hens, travelling from Letterkenny on her horse and cart with eggs and butter to exchange for food such as four stone of flour in a bag. Her mother would use cotton bags to make sheets, clothing and underwear.

A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council, who run Frank Downie House, told the Post: "Another job of Martha’s was to make soda bread which was done on a hook on top of an open fire. Martha worked on the fields planting potatoes in March and would tend to them until September when these were dug up.

"In April, Martha would help her father with turf which was cut and dried around a mile from home for the horses and cows. Martha would also help her uncle with chores in the house and on the farm.

"Martha fell in love with a neighbouring man called David Black and they married in 1951.

"On her wedding day, Martha left home and headed to Derry to catch the boat. It took three days to reach Scotland and when they arrived they rented a room from an elderly gentleman.

"Martha’s husband David worked for John Browns in Clydebank and Martha worked in Dalmuir Park before becoming a housewife. Martha loved her garden very much."

After her husband David retired, the couple lived in Lilac Avenue until Martha moved to Frank Downie House in 2014.