Birthday celebrations
Longlands resident Cassie Gillen celebrated her 103rd birthday last Thursday, July 18. Cassie was born in Ballycraigy and brought up in Greencastle.
She was a weaver from the age of 14 before she and sister Maggie Rolston opened a community shop in Longlands in 1956. Cassie worked there until 1998. Cassie received a plaque from Newtownabbey council and a medal from the Irish President Michael D Higgins. She said the secret to a long life was milk with a nip of whiskey.
Councillors Thomas Hogg, John Blair and Billy Webb all offered Cassie their birthday wishes.