AN 83-YEAR-OLD Dublin grandmother sang and danced with joy this week after leaving her home for the first time in over two months.
Patsy Byrne has been “cocooning” at home ever since the Irish government initiated a nationwide lockdown to help stem the spread of coronavirus.
With anyone over the age of 70 deemed at most risk to catching the virus, people like Patsy have been required to stay at home for the duration of the lockdown.
However, the restrictions put in place all those weeks ago are now beginning to ease, starting with the introduction of a designated time for those cocooning to go outside and enjoy some gentle exercise.
Since Tuesday, May 5, the elderly and vulnerable have been allowed back outside for a well-earned stretch of the legs – while maintaining strict social distancing, of course.
Patsy, from the Liberties, was among those to take those first steps back out into society and her joy and excitement could not have been more apparent.
In a delightful video filmed by her daughter, Lesley, Patsy can be seen singing and dancing to the Pointer Sisters’ classic ‘Im So Excited’ as she puts on her jacket to head out.
"I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it," she sings to her overjoyed daughter.
She added: "I know, I know, I know, I know, I want to go out!"
With the number of new infections and hospital cases continuing to drop in Ireland, Patsy could have even more to sing about in the coming weeks and months.
