An Antrim GAA club member has been released from intensive care after weeks of battling an illness.
Gerard McLarnon, from Randalstown, left hospital on Tuesday after eight weeks in the ICU.
Gerard is a club and committee member of the Kickham GAA club in Creggan and as he left the intensive care ward, we was greeted with applause from the staff in the hospital.
Kickham GAC shared the incredible news on social media saying: "We can’t thank the amazing health workers in our local hospitals enough. Your well wishes, thoughts, prayers and help has all made this milestone possible. Thank you everyone."
They also posted the video on Facebook, which provoked an outpouring of tributes from friends.
One comment said: "Absolutely delighted to watch this clip,fabulous news for the Mclarnon Family. Will keep praying for your continued recovery."
Another said: "Heartwarming video. Delighted for Gerard and all his family and humbled by the NHS staff that work in such difficult circumstances."
The news was also celebrated by Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney, who shared the news on Twitter.
Mr Kearney, who is from Antrim, said: "Delighted for Gerard, Kathleen & the whole family.Getting another wee bit closer to home & Randalstown!!!"
The news comes after a patient was released from an adult hospice in Belfast earlier this week to applause from staff.
Video footage of him leaving a Northern Ireland Hospice has been posted on social media.
He had been cared for at the Adult Hospice on Somerton Road, Belfast and was discharged last week.
The great news was shared on the hospice's Facebook page and shows Joe walking out of Somerton House to applause from staff.
The post read: "We have a nice story to share today about Joe, one of our patients who was cared for in our Adult Hospice at Somerton House.
"Joe had been admitted to the Mater Hospital and was later transferred to the Northern Ireland Hospice.
"Yesterday afternoon he left Hospice having recovered from Covid-19. Our Care Team were delighted to see Joe recover from the virus and applauded him as he started his journey home to his family.
"The Northern Ireland Hospice has been quietly and compassionately caring for patients with Covid-19 over the past few months.
"We pay tribute to our frontline staff and to the many people and organisations across our community who support us in our work.
"We hope that in sharing Joe's story we can demonstrate our strong and continued belief that in the face of adversity, there is hope."
