By Michelle Crean

Family members of the late Paul Doyle who died from COVID-19 say they are still trying to process the sudden loss and are urging the public to get vaccinated.

.

.

Paul (49) grew up in St Brendan's Terrace Killarney before settling in Killorglin with his wife Audrey and six children. Paul played underage for Legion and continued to support them throughout his life. He also followed Killarney Legion closely and was a big Wolves fan.

In August he contracted the virus and after seven weeks and a day in an induced coma, lost his hard fought battle and passed away surrounded by his heart-broken family.

Paul, who was "absolutely terrified to get the vaccine" had underlying health conditions and was undecided whether to get vaccinated or not. And although as a family they booked their vaccine appointments, they contracted COVID before they could get them done.

“It’s horrendous trying to comprehend it," his sister Louise from Muckross told the Killarney Advertiser.
“We are absolutely shocked. At the age of 49 you just don't think this will happen.”

With cases currently high in Kerry, she is encouraging anyone who has concerns or who is hesitating about taking the vaccine to talk to their doctor, especially those with underlying conditions.

As the grandfather of one was taken from his home to the ICU in University Hospital Kerry, his last words were “I don’t care what they do to me I just want to get better,” she tearfully added.

They remained hopeful that he’d make a recovery however he never regained consciousness and passed away due to respiratory failure.

“They were reducing the sedation and a day later they said that things didn’t look good. There was no goodbye.”

Paul loved his home town of Killarney so much that his family decided to lay him to rest in Aghadoe Lawn Cemetery.

Friend of the family, Ciara Cronin, set up a GoFundMe page: 'Paul Doyle's family', to help with funeral costs.

TESTING

This week the HSE set up a new mobile test centre in Killarney due to the "exceptionally high demand" for COVID tests in recent days. It's operating from 10am to 6pm at Coolgrane Training Centre, Upper Lewis Road, Ballydribbeen (Eircode V93FX01). The HSE confirmed to the Killarney Advertiser that it will remain open by appointment only until this coming Monday.

The HSE South said there is "a high level of community spread in the county at the moment" and that they are monitoring the increase.

"We’re seeing this increase in all age-groups, and in many areas – particularly urban areas," Acting Director of Public Health for Cork and Kerry, Anne Sheahan, said.

"As always, we continue to investigate clusters and outbreaks and we have not linked this increase back to any particular location or type of event. We are seeing cases in workplaces; but also as a result of social gatherings such as First Communions, Confirmations, weddings and others; and as a result of funerals. We have also noted a small number of cases in residential care settings. For that reason, I appeal to people who are not yet vaccinated to make sure they get their vaccine as soon as possible. You can register for your vaccine online on hse.ie, or you can attend a walk-in vaccination clinic to receive Dose 1 or Dose 2 of a vaccine."

She added that over the last few weeks, the HSE have been rolling out a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine for residents aged over 65 in long-term residential care. "This campaign will be completed next week."