Centenarian Maura Doyle and her rescuers. Source: independent.ie Happy birthday Maura!
Just one day away from her 100th-birthday... and stranded in her home. Ninety-Nine-year old Maura Doyle was facing the prospect of bringing in the triple digits on her lonesome yesterday...
After the heavy snowfall brought on by Storm Emma, her area in Roundwood Wicklow was still heavily snowed in.
So, the troops from the 7th Infantry battalion were deployed to shift the white stuff on Tuesday.
When they were done successfully clearing a path to Maura's house, she told the troops that she was to reach a century the following day (yesterday).
And of course, being sound and all, the lads from 7th Infantry thought they'd better stop by again the following day to bestow their best wishes on Maura for her amazing achievement.
Good work from the boys!
Speaking to the Independent, Lt Richard O'Hagan said, "It was great to have the opportunity to meet Ms Doyle on the eve of her 100th birthday. As we were working in the same area the following day we decided we would call back with a card and a cake to help her celebrate the big occasion."
Her son, Eugene thanked the Defence Forces for their efforts on Tuesday.
"To return the day after for her birthday was great," he said.
So far during the snow and ice, the Defence Forces have deployed 2,496 personnel and 767 vehicles to provide round-the-clock support to civil authorities and the emergency services.
This story originally appeared on independent.ie.
