For a 100th birthday

Five generations have something to say.

The children, the great-grandchildren and everyone in between each record a message for the 100th. They get every message to play on the day and a book to keep beside the President's letter.

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Gathering is free. You won't need a card.

Hear it
Their voice plays from the page.
Read it
Every message is written out on its page.
Hold it
We deliver the printed book to your door.

The world gets better when people hear the good things we say about them.

We are enabling over 1 million people to say it. Share the stories, love and gratitude. Your voice is what makes the world's greatest gift.

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Watch it

Here's how Grandad's 100th birthday book was made.

9:41
A Chorus book in green linen with For Grandad stamped on the front, lying on a wooden table
How it works

Bring everyone's stories together with one link!

Start the book

Tell us who it's for

Put in their name, then send the link to each branch of the family.

Share one link

Everyone adds their story

Friends and family can capture a memory by voice, video, writing or photos, wherever they are in the world. It's easy on any phone and nobody needs an account!

We put it together

Hear it, read it, hold it

We write out every voice note and gather it all into a podcast you can play and a beautiful book you can hold.

The three questions for a 100th

  1. What's your oldest memory of them?
  2. What would you ask them about the last hundred years?
  3. What would you like to say to them for their 100th?
Who's in a 100th book

Their carers know them as they are now!

A 100th is a small party at home, in the nursing home or in the local hotel. Send the link to the neighbours who see them every week as well as the family.

1

The President's letter

In Ireland, a person turning 100 gets a letter of congratulations signed by the President with the Centenarian Bounty.

2

The carers and neighbours

A carer can record from the same link on a break.

3

At the party

Bring the printed book on visits and read a page or two each time.

What people say

What people say in a 100th birthday book

Put a place and a year in your story.

"Grandad, it's Ríonach. What was school like when you were nine? Did you have to walk?"
RRíonachhis great-granddaughter, aged nine
"John, it's Póilín from the day shift. You have the crossword done before I've the tea made. See you Monday."
PPóilínhis carer
"Dad, it's Stiofán. I remember you bringing us to the Galway Races on the back of the lorry in 1962. Happy hundredth."
SStiofánhis son, aged seventy-two
"John, it's Setanta next door. You told me about the Eucharistic Congress again last week, and I could listen to it all day. Happy birthday."
SSetantahis neighbour
When to start

Start a month before the 100th

Close the book three weeks before the birthday for the printed copy. The podcast link and the book online are ready the day you order.

In their words
A Christmas gift
We gave a book of stories about Mam to her for Christmas and she said it was the best gift she had received. There were some stories she had never heard! She felt really surrounded by love.
K
Kathleen's family
gave her the book at Christmas
What it costs

Gathering the voices is free. You only pay when the book is ready.

The gathering
Free
Send one link and collect the voices.
  • Every voice and every photo
  • Download every recording
  • Start as many books as you like
Start free
The voices
$45
Voice editing, and a personal podcast link.
  • Each recording tidied as it comes in
  • The original kept exactly as it was made
  • One link that plays every voice straight through
Choose the voices
The book
$99
Everything in the voices, plus the finished book to read online.
  • The finished book laid out to read online
  • Every message playable from its page
  • Every message written out beside its voice
Choose the book
The keepsake
$115
The book, printed and posted to you.
  • One printed hardcover copy
  • Posted to you
  • Everything in the book option
Choose the keepsake

Want to write your own questions? Start a blank book

Questions people ask

What do you get someone for their 100th birthday?

Messages from each branch of the family, with the old photos that go with them.

How do you get the President's letter for a 100th birthday in Ireland?

If they get a Department of Social Protection pension, their details go to the President's office automatically. If not, contact the Pensions Section of the Department. It's usually presented by a member of the local clergy or a friend. Citizens Information has the detail at https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/older-and-retired-people/centenarians-bounty/

What happens on the 101st birthday?

From the 101st birthday on, a person living in Ireland gets a commemorative coin in a presentation box each year, with a letter signed by the President. A new coin is designed every year.

Can an Irish relative living abroad get the Centenarian Bounty?

Irish citizens born on the island of Ireland who turn 100 and live abroad can apply through their nearest Irish embassy or consulate, or the Department of Foreign Affairs. The form is at https://www.ireland.ie/en/irish-diaspora/centenarian-bounty/

How do we include family who can't come to the party?

They record from the link wherever they live, and their message plays with everyone else's. We post the printed book to Ireland, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, every EU country, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

Can everyone chip in?

Yes, if you turn chip-in on. Everyone who records can put money towards the book and saves their card. Their cards are charged when you go to pay, and it comes off what you pay. If you don’t finish paying, their money goes back within a week.

More books like this

A 90th birthday An 80th birthday Someone in a care home A life story Grandparents A personal podcast

Is someone in the family turning 100?

Start the book now and invite people whenever you're ready.

Start collecting, free
Start collecting, free