Octogenarian Irish woman finally meets 103-year-old mum

An 81-year-old Irish woman has been reunited with her centinarian mother for the first time after searching for her for over 60 years, according to a media report on Friday.

Eileen Macken grew up in a Bethany Home orphanage in Dublin and had never met her birth mother.

She started searching when she was 19 and last year contacted Ireland's RTE's Liveline to appeal for help to find her mother.

Earlier this year a genealogist called to say he had tracked her down in Scotland.

"Once I heard that, nothing would stop me trying to get to see her," Eileen said.

She travelled to Scotland last month and finally met her mum, Elizabeth, who will be 104 on Saturday, the BBC reported.

"I went over to see her and she's the most beautiful lady, lovely family, they gave me a great welcome," she told RTE's Liveline programme.

"We came in and, honestly I haven't got over the acceptance that I got.

"They accepted me and I had a great chat with my mother."
"I think it's nearly gone past her, but there was such a bond between the two of us. It was fantastic."