Dream trip cut short by coronavirus
AN Arklow couple’s dream holiday was cut short as they faced a mad dash to get home from New York.
Kitty and Pat Hayes, who live in the Dublin Road area of Arklow, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on St Patrick’s Day. However, their plans to mark the special occasion in New York were cut short by the evolving Covid-19 crisis.
The couple, two sons and their wives, granddaughter and her friend had travelled stateside to enjoy a cruise and had planned to spend St Patrick’s Day in New York with other members of the family. Instead, they were forced to change their plans and come home on Sunday night following the announcement that the US would suspend travel to Ireland from Monday.
Speaking to this paper from Heathrow Airport in London, Kitty said ‘it’s been quite an adventure, but we made the best of it.’
The trip had been booked last year to coincide with the couple’s golden wedding anniversary. A stay in New York had been included as they’d ‘always wanted to experience St Patrick’s Day parade’ in the city, Kitty explained.
The group of eight left Ireland on Saturday, March 8 with the first part of their trip including a Caribbean cruise. While their time on the cruise ship was a ‘challenge’ as they ‘felt more vulnerable’, Kitty was full of praise for the ship’s crew and said the family enjoyed their time at sea.
‘We were hoping all the time that nothing was going to happen on the ship in particular... it turned out okay in the end.’
Kitty and her family were due to be joined by their daughter on Saturday in New York, but unfortunately, she was unable to travel.
‘She was coming out in five days so we were all together for the celebrations but it wasn’t to be,’ said Kitty, ‘she’s home safe and sound waiting patiently for us to get home.’
Meanwhile, Kitty, Pat and the rest of the group faced the challenge of changing their flights to get home to Ireland and left New York on Sunday night, arriving in Heathrow Airport in London on Monday morning and were due to return to Ireland on an afternoon flight.
Once home, Kitty said the family will enter a period of self isolation.
‘It was unfortunate that this was hanging over us but it was lovely to be away with my family. I’m very lucky to have a lovely family...but it was just unfortunate that this coronavirus happened at the same time. We enjoyed it and we were together. We made the best of it because we had to do it.’
Meanwhile, the couple hope to continue the celebration of their wedding anniversary in the year with a trip to Maastricht to see Andre Rieu in concert later in the summer.
‘Our family has presented us with a lovely present. We’re fans of Andre Rieu and have three nights in Maastricht to see him live. Hopefully, fingers crossed it all goes well. That’s another thing to look forward to.’