“He is making small improvements every day.”

THE family of Gene Tangney, who has been in hospital for almost a month battling COVID-19, have thanked the community for their support during this difficult time. Speaking to The Kerryman this week, they said that Gene is improving daily, though he remains seriously ill and in an induced coma in ICU.

The well-known Black Valley man took ill in mid-March and ended up in hospital a week later. He had been tested for COVID-19 but his condition worsened before any results came back, and he was taken to University Hospital Kerry (UHK), where he has been battling the deadly virus for almost four weeks.

His sister, Susan, said that Gene is fighting daily.

“He is doing okay, but he is still very sick. He is fighting every day, and there are little improvements. He will be in hospital now a month this Friday,” she said.

Friends, family and the wider community are rallying around the family, and candles are lighting across the valley and in the parishes of Beaufort and Killarney as everyone prays for his recovery. He is the loving father of Feidhlim and Fiadhna, and the family run the Black Valley hostel. The prayers of the community are such a support in this time of need, especially for Gene’s 82-year old father, Michael (Dikie) Tangney.

“It is great that, though we are all apart, everyone still feels close to us,” said Susan.

“Our father has great faith, and the prayers are important to him. We are just hoping and praying for an improvement.”

She praised the nursing staff at University Hospital Kerry for the wonderful care that Gene is receiving.

“Words can’t describe what they are doing for us,” she said.

“We can’t wait for the day that Gene is sitting up in bed and we can talk to him again.”

Valerie O’Sullivan Photo by Gene with life-long friend Con Moriarty when they rescued, sheep dog ‘Jack’, who had been stuck on the cliff face of Carrauntoohil for eight days. The dog belonged to sheep farmer John O’Sullivan from the Bridia Valley.