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Coronavirus Ireland: Husband celebrates golden anniversary by serenading wife through care home window

NOT even a virus pandemic was going to stop romantic Denis McCarthy from paying a special golden anniversary tribute to his beloved wife, Ann, in a Cork nursing home Expand

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NOT even a virus pandemic was going to stop romantic Denis McCarthy from paying a special golden anniversary tribute to his beloved wife, Ann, in a Cork nursing home

NOT even a virus pandemic was going to stop romantic Denis McCarthy from paying a special golden anniversary tribute to his beloved wife, Ann, in a Cork nursing home

NOT even a virus pandemic was going to stop romantic Denis McCarthy from paying a special golden anniversary tribute to his beloved wife, Ann, in a Cork nursing home

Ralph Riegel

NOT even a virus pandemic was going to stop romantic Denis McCarthy from paying a special golden anniversary tribute to his beloved wife, Ann, in a Cork nursing home.

Denis - while carefully observing all Health Service Executive (HSE) social distancing protocols - stood outside the window of Ann's room at the Fairfield care facility in Drimoleague to wish his wife a happy 50th anniversary.

However, because of strict Covid-19 precautions now in place at all Irish nursing homes, Denis could not sit by his wife's bedside, offer her an anniversary hug or even hold her hand.

Instead, Denis stood outside Ann's window and wished her a happy anniversary - bringing a tear to the eye of Fairfield staff who looked on.

The couple are both huge Van Morrison fans and, to mark their special day, Denis also sang 'Brown Eyed Girl', Ann's favourite song, while standing outside her window.

Van Morrison's legendary album, 'Moondance', was released in the year they got married and they remained devoted fans of the Belfast-born star for the past half century.

To complete the occasion, Ann had earlier been presented with a special cake to mark their 50th wedding anniversary. Their daughter, Annette Manning, contacted Cork's RedFM to have a special request played for the couple.

She also issued a special message of solidarity to all patients in Irish nursing homes nationwide.

"It is tough times for all Irish families," Annette admitted. "But he (Denis) wanted to make the day as special as possible for her
despite what is going on in Ireland and the world."

Annette said her father was determined to mark their golden wedding anniversary properly and in style.

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