But luckily, the great grandmother, who continues to drive and swims five times a week, wasn't going to let US politics dampen her recent birthday celebrations.
The centenarian's remarkable spirit is being highlighted to mark positive ageing week which takes place until October 3.
Nora, who lives in Wilton, shows no signs of slowing down, enjoying a morning swim at Brookfield Leisure Centre on College Road in Cork where she has been a member for 33 years. As young at heart as ever, the Mallow native offers a few nuggets of advice - and a few amusing insights for good measure, including on Trump and Tommy Tiernan's use of the F-word.
"There have been a lot of changes over the years, some of which are very positive but others that are not so welcome.
I'm definitely not a Donald Trump fan. He thinks he is God but, in actual fact, he doesn't have a clue what he is saying.
"The sad thing is that nobody can say a word against him."
"I loved Tommy Tiernan's talk show but he uses the F-word far too much. You wouldn't see it on BBC. It wouldn't and shouldn't be allowed. It's a pity because Tommy Tiernan's show is very good and he has the most interesting guests."
She acknowledges that some changes, however, are for the better including how society treats people with disabilities.
"In my day you would never see a person with disabilities. They were either locked away or kept behind closed doors which was really sad. Today, people with disabilities are very much included in society.
"They have opportunities now and can go so many places which wasn't the case in my day. The only shame that still exists is for children with special needs who can't get places in schools. That to me is very wrong."
Nora, who has five children, 16 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, says there are some parts of getting older which she finds difficult.
"My husband Frank Moloney is dead six years now. He was 95 years old and previously worked on the railway. I miss him a lot. I hated closing the door into an empty house after he died. That was probably the hardest part."
And she puts her alert mind and youthful appearance down to good genes.
"I do have expensive taste and use Lancome products on my skin but it's the luck of the draw I think. My mother always looked healthy and she never wore make-up. You couldn't afford it back then. All she ever used was a bit of moisturiser but that was it.
"The best thing about being my age is you can do what you like. I have had to slow down and remember there are some things I can't do anymore. I couldn't go up on a ladder, but I get up at 7.30am every morning and go to mass.
"I didn't learn to drive till I was 50 so I was a very late learner. Now, I drive myself to swimming every day and do bridge twice a week.
"If the blinds are down, you'd have somebody coming over or ringing to make sure I'm not dead since I'm always out and about."
Nora said her family endured struggles growing up, but paid tribute to her own mother.
"My father was killed while working as a postman. He had an accident on his bicycle and only lived for a week after. I was seven and the youngest was three months.
"My mum was marvelous. She was a great cook and made all our clothes. We had hens and turkeys and were very self-sufficient. The only thing we really had to buy was tea, sugar and butter."
According to Nora's daughter Mary, the 100-year-old is adored by the whole family for being so kind.
Mary said:
She has 16 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren and remembers every one of their birthdays and the day they were born. She'll send a card to every one of them without fail.
She describes her as extremely independent and resilient.
"Mum went on a cruise in January. Unfortunately her luggage got lost on the flight over. She adores her style and would have loved to have worn something new every night but when something goes wrong she just accepts it. I think this has a lot to do with her resilience."