Tony Cummins was an Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 priest

Priest

A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...

 and centenarian

Centenarian

A centenarian is a person who is or lives beyond the age of 100 years. Because current average life expectancies across the world are less than 100, the term is invariably associated with longevity. Much rarer, a supercentenarian is a person who has lived to the age of 110 or more, something only...

.

Cummins was born in Sonnagh townland in the parish of Killeenadeema, Loughrea

Loughrea

Loughrea is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The town lies north of a range of wooded hills, the Slieve Aughty Mountains.The town expanded in recent years as it increasingly becomes a commuter town for the city of Galway.- Name :...

, one of three sisters and three sons of Patrick Cummins of Duniry

Duniry

Duniry is a small village between Tynagh and Abbey. It was built beside a large bog known now as Limehill bog. This was the main trade of Duniry at the time....

 and Elizabeth Egan of Clonlee, a primary school teacher. He was educated at Garbally and Maynooth

Maynooth

Maynooth is a town in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is home to a branch of the National University of Ireland, a Papal University and Ireland's main Roman Catholic seminary, St. Patrick's College...

, been ordained by Bishop Duignan at Loughrea

Loughrea

Loughrea is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The town lies north of a range of wooded hills, the Slieve Aughty Mountains.The town expanded in recent years as it increasingly becomes a commuter town for the city of Galway.- Name :...

 in 1932. He served in the parishes of Clostoken, Loughrea, Killimor, Killeenadeema, and Cappataggle. He retired from there in 1987.

In 2006 he planted a tree with John Kirby (bishop)

John Kirby (Bishop)

John Kirby is the Bishop of the Diocese of Clonfert. He was born in Baylough, Athlone, County Roscommon, Ireland. He was ordained a priest on 23 June 1963 for his home diocese. He was educated at Garbally College where he later taught...

to mark his hundredth birthday, at Ballinderry Nursing Home.