Tipperary man Jack Powell is celebrating a life full of love, laughter and all things veterinary and vet related this week.
As Ireland’s oldest vet who loved working with farmers more than the money has become the oldest-ever member of his profession in the country.
Born into a farming family at Blean, Toomevara, Co Tipperary on May 29, 1913, Jack Powell – the youngest of five children of Bob and Ellen Powell – has lived through the War of Independence, the Civil War an two world wars.
During his time, he qualified as a pilot with the Royal Air Force and endured some horrific destruction of farm livestock during an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Britain. He also became Europe’s longest-serving vet when he completed over 75 years in practice in 2011.
