There were sunny celebrations on Gardiners Hill over the weekend.

Local Sheila McCarthy celebrated her 100th birthday with a special nod to Hollywood legend Charlie Chaplin.

Sheila’s father Cornelius McCarthy was the first concierge at the Metropole Hotel and worked at the MacCurtain Street hotel from 1902 to 1946. Among the many stars that Cornelius welcomed was comic actor Charlie Chaplin.

“My father always spoke so fondly of his time working at The Metropole,” said Sheila.

“It was a big part of his life and he shared lots of wonderful memories from that time with us all. I have a photograph of him and Charlie Chaplin, one of the many stars he met, standing in front of the main door of the hotel and it’s something that my family and I will always treasure.”

He retired from his position at the Metropole Hotel 75 years ago.

Roger Russell, General Manager of the Metropole Hotel delivered a special afternoon tea to Sheila to mark the occasion.

“Sheila and her family are very special to us here at the Metropole Hotel as her father was the very first concierge at the hotel,” he said.

“Sheila is a remarkable lady and we are so grateful to her for sharing her stories of the Metropole Hotel. We will be celebrating ourselves soon when we turn 124 years old this month.”