A son has shared his heartbreak after his mother succumbed to coronavirus following a 66-day battle with the deadly disease.
Paraic Aherne said his mother Geraldine bravely fought Covid-19 for over two months in ICU in University Hospital Limerick before passing away in the last few days.
Originally from Janesboro in Co Limerick before moving to Adare in the county, Geraldine Aherne, née Rockett, died surrounded by her loving and heartbroken family this week, RSVP Live reports.
Son Paraic wrote on his Facebook page: "The longest in ICU care across the entire country, defying all doctors for weeks and months to live to fight another day.
"My mom - 63 years of age - fit, healthy, no underlying conditions, full of life, running and walking marathons for fun. This virus does not discriminate.
"If you don’t believe in superheroes, then you never met my mom. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam."
Geraldine is sadly missed by her loving husband Mike, her sons Eoin, Gearoid, and Paraic, daughter-in-law Nina, sisters Mary, Helen, Margaret and brother Patrick, sisters-in-law Myra and Joan, brothers-in-law Jimmy and Jim, nieces, nephews, relatives and a large community of close friends.
Tributes have been flowing in, including from Limerick hurling captain and Adare man Declan Hannon.
"Rest in peace, Geraldine," he tweeted with a love heart.
Geraldine's Mass was said by Fr Chris O'Donnell and concelebrated by parish priest, Monsignor Daniel Neenan, who has only been in Adare for just over two years.
Monsignor Neenan said: "I don't think I have ever come across a community so united in their desire for Geraldine to recover.
"I said at the Mass people who hardly believe in God or rarely ever pray have been praying and praying that she would get better.
"Everybody was praying obviously for Geraldine but also for her husband Mike, who is very well liked and highly regarded and their sons.
"They are part of a lovely community in Castleroberts. They are very united and look out for each other."
He described Geraldine as an "absolutely lovely lady".
He added: "She was charismatic, just one of those lovely, warm and engaging people.
"There was an honesty about her as well - you would know where you stand. She was so good.
"Her capacity for friendship was certainly quite special."
