A KILLARNEY WELCOME: Lisa Connolly, pictured with her mom Tina and sisters Ciara and Jessica, enjoyed a VIP experience in Killarney all for free last weekend thanks to the generosity of locals.

By Michelle Crean

It is a holiday they’ll never forget with VIP treatment last weekend as Killarney locals generously extended their kindness to a compassionate COVID carer who featured on RTÉ.

In June, during the height of the health crisis, hearts across the country broke as viewers of RTÉ ONE’s ‘Inside Ireland’s COVID Battle’ watched kind-hearted Dublin lady Lisa Connolly care for a 97-year-old patient named Patrick, as he lost his battle with COVID-19.

With no family close by to care for him, his support worker Lisa regularly visited him in St James’ Hospital. And after he passed away, she even went into the hospital room to hold his hand as she sang ‘The Irish Lullaby’ to him and bent down and kissed him on the forehead through her mask despite the risks to her own life.

Moved by Lisa’s selflessness, local guesthouse owner Ciara Roche who runs Killaran House on Park Road reached out to her and offered Lisa and family a three night stay for free as a thank you for being so kind.

On Friday last, Lisa, her mom Tina and sisters Ciara and Jessica were thrilled when they arrived in Killarney and were treated like VIPs.

What’s more is that many local businesses also offered their services for free including Danny O’Sullivan from Killarney Hackney Cabs who made himself available as their personal chauffeur and said he “was glad to help”.

On Friday, the ladies had their hair and shellac nails done by Elegant Styles followed by dinner at Killeen House Hotel and Rozzers Restaurant.

[caption id="attachment_33466" align="alignleft" width="226"] Lisa Connolly on RTÉ ONE’s ‘Inside Ireland’s COVID Battle’.[/caption]

The next day it was a facial for Lisa at What Women Want and fun for the family at Escape Killarney which they said was “absolutely brilliant”, and lunch in the Eviston House Hotel. On Sunday they enjoyed a carvery lunch and then a trip to Ross Castle with Jarvey John Kearney. Lisa also received a voucher for Who’s 4 Shoes while Ciara’s aunt in Dublin, Deirdre Quinn, gave a cash gift and Pauline O’Connor from Cill Ide B&B dropped in a Penney’s voucher. Lisa also received a gift of a printed image of Killarney by local photographer Peter O’Toole which was framed by the Killarney Printer.

“I was so delighted to finally welcome Lisa, her sisters Ciara and Jessica and her mum Tina to Killaran House for their three night staycation,” Ciara told the Killarney Advertiser.

“They are a fab bunch of girls. At first it was kind of emotional. A lovely gentleman called in as soon as the girls arrived and they hugged. He gave her an envelope and he cried. It was heart wrenching - she really did touch people.”

Ciara said over the weekend it was great to see the ladies have such a relaxing fun time.

Her appeal on Facebook and in the Killarney Advertiser, which we ran two weeks ago, meant more businesses came on board to make their weekend extra special.

“It was their first visit to Killarney and they had a ball. Lisa said they felt like VIPs and that she’s dying to come back down again.”

Ciara, who said that she felt the urge to help after watching the moving programme, added that she’s very thankful to everyone who came on board and made it extra special for Lisa and her family.

“It worked out great in the long run and I want to thank everyone that came on board to help.”