Michael was a mixed farmer and was born on on 5 October 1907 in a thatched cottage, which was next to the house that he later built with his wife Mae. Married for more than 60 years, they had 10 children and 22 grandchildren.

His son Eamon told the Farmers Journal that his father as a "gentleman" who had a love of the land.

"He loved farming and animals," he said. "He enjoyed tilling the land and going to fairs and marts."

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Eamon added that he had a keen eye for stock.

"My father was a very good judge of stock. He never came home with a bad animal. He was also a great man to tell a story, and was very relaxed about life."

Another Roscommon farmer, Luke Dolan from Strokestown, was Ireland's oldest man before his death in November. The two men met for the first time last year.

He died on Sunday night at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.