Happy 60th Cathy, from Down Under

If the Covid-19 pandemic hadn’t turned international travel into a pipe dream for the foreseeable future, Sydney based Mullingar native Joanne Colgan might well have been back in her hometown this week to celebrate her mother Cathy Madden’s landmark birthday.

Willowbrook resident Cathy turned 60 today, Monday October 19. As part of the Covid-19 testing team at Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar, Cathy has been on the frontline in the battle against the virus, which has turned 2020 into a year that none of us will forget, even if we want to. Joanne said that she is very proud of her “wonderful mum”.

“She is the most genuine, loyal, loving and hard working person you would ever meet. I wish I could say this to her in person and give her a big hug, but being so far away in Sydney and Covid times I guess it will have to be done over Facetime.”

The last seven months have made the distance between Mullingar and Sydney seem even greater for Joanne and her family.

“When we moved to Australia we always said, even though we were 24 hours away, we could book a flight and return home whenever we wanted to. This has now been taken away due to Covid, and it makes you feel like you are isolated and, at times, homesick.

“We talk about visiting family all the time, wondering when it will happen and from what I have just heard on the news tonight, we might not get back to Ireland on holiday until 2022 – which means I might have to miss my brother’s wedding. These things are milestones in your family life that you always imagine been part of, not watching on Facetime.

“We hope that a vaccination is found soon and that we can travel again and most of all hug our loved ones.”