AN ELDERLY Irish couple separated because of coronavirus still found a heartwarming way to mark their 50th wedding anniversary.
Denis and Ann McCarthy had been planning quite the celebration for their golden anniversary.
However, with Ann currently residing in a nursing home, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and necessary lockdown of the elderly put a spanner in the works.
Unable to meet face-to-face, Denis devised a way of ensuring he saw his wife on their special day.
Heading over to Cork’s Fairfield Nursing Home, he enjoyed a special reunion with Ann, while maintain the government’s strict distancing rules.
A picture shared to the nursing home’s Facebook page captured the emotional moment the couple locked eyes through a window.
They wrote: “This is such a hard and emotional time for staff, residents and families alike.
“Today had us all in floods of tears. Ann & Denis celebrated their 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary and all they could do was look at each other through a window.
“Such hard times for all involved. This has really pulled all our heartstrings.”
The occasion was made all the more special by Denis, who proceeded to serenade Ann with a rendition of the Van Morrison classic Brown Eyed Girl, while staff at the home presented her with cake.
Speaking later on The Neil Prendeville Show, the couple’s daughter Annette described her mother’s reaction.
“Mum has been in a nursing home for the last 12 months in Fairfield,” she said.
“There has been a lockdown for the last few weeks so dad hasn’t been able to see mum
“Obviously this was hard for both for them so we got onto the nursing home and the chef in there and she produced the cake.
“The window had to stay closed but mum hadn’t been expecting it and they hadn’t seen each other in a few weeks.
“It was a very emotional time. Mum was in her nursing home bed and Dad was at her bedroom window just knocking and trying to serenade he but sure the windows were closed.
“50 years ago they tied the knot. 50 years of wedded bliss.”
