'The perfect day' - Nursing home residents take to the skies

(Above) Harry Kelly, one of the residents of Bethany House who took to skies yesterday.

A group of residents from Bethany House nursing home in Tyrrellspass literally had their heads in the clouds yesterday when they took to the skies at Ormand Flying Club in Birr.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Madeline Corboy, who co-owns the home with her husband David, described it as “the perfect day”, particularly after the changes that the residents have had to endure due to the Covid-19 crisis.

“The weather was perfect. The residents have just been stuck inside since March so we thought let's go, pack up the cars. They had a few little scoops for Dutch courage and a nice picnic.”

David, who is a pilot by trade and a member of Ormand Flying Club, was in the cockpit for yesterday's flights.

A few of the fliers had never been in a plane before, but they “thoroughly embraced it”, Madeline says.

“It was a big achievement for them to even get into the plane, it was amazing.

“It's all that has been talked about today. For the residents that couldn't travel, David did a fly over display directly over the nursing home at lunchtime.”

In a post on its Facebook page, Bethany House said that the group “had a fantastic day out making memories”.

“We had a very excited group of residents, some of whom experienced their first ever trip in a plane, and for others it was their first flight in a single engine plane. They got to see Bethany House from the sky and got a birdseye view of their own houses

“Club president Moss Fagan and Paddy Scally also carried out an important aerial inspection of the works at the GAA grounds in Tyrrellspass and they were delighted with the works being carried out. Thank you Ormand Flying Club for hosting us in a beautiful and safe setting.”