A CO Down man is using his 100th birthday celebrations to help raise funds for a day care centre close to his heart.
Instead of gifts, Joey Rodgers from Ballymartin is hoping well-wishers will donate to the Mourne Stimulus Day Centre to mark his milestone birthday.
The father-of-nine, who turns 100 today, has already raised around £1,400 for the Kilkeel centre, which provides support for adults with of learning disabilities, including his daughter Attracta.
His daughter Mary Rooney last night told The Irish News that "the kindness and support already had been fantastic".
Mr Rodgers, the youngest of nine children born to Edward and Mary Rodgers, has spent his entire life living in Ballymartin, where he is a popular face in the community.
"His mother and father used to have a grocery store at Blackrock in Ballymartin and he would have helped out there before he began work in construction," said Ms Rooney.
"When he worked as a lorry driver, he travelled all around south Down and Ballykinlar. He would have worked away and gave the money he earned to mummy, there was nine of us and he would have done anything for us.
"He only retired when he was 80.
"He also worked at Glasdrumman House as a gardener where he met a lot of famous people including James Galway, who tried to tempt daddy to come to work in Switzerland for him."
She said her father, a former treasurer of Ballymartin GAC and Football Club, "has always enjoyed his life".
Good wishes have already been pouring in locally from family, neighbours and friends with a vintage tractor club doing a drive-past his house on Sunday.
There have also been numerous calls from America, Australia, Canada and England.
"He didn't want anything, but he said if anybody wanted to donate money to the Mourne Stimulus Centre, where my sister Attracta goes to," added Ms Rooney who said she was overwhelmed by the kindness of others.