A 96-year-old woman who received a hero’s welcome when she returned home after battling the coronavirus says she knew she would beat it.
Betty Moody, who lives in Moyvane in Co Kerry, spent two weeks in hospital.
She told Newstalk Breakfast she does not know how she contracted it.
"I don't know how I got it but the nurse came on the Monday the 23rd of March... she says you're going to hospital.
"I says I'm not, there's nothing wrong - she says but there is - an ambulance will be here soon".
She says she was then taken by ambulance, despite her objections.
"I said when they put me in the ambulance 'if anything happens to me, I'll haunt you for the rest of your life'".
But she says she was not worried, as she was determined to come out fighting.
"I wasn't really down, like - I thought well if I've got it I'll get over it, and that was it.
"My mind was made up - I'm not going anywhere until I've sorted a few things out and that was it.
She says she had to pay rent and get her pension, among other things.
"But best of all I had to see my solicitor and that was it".
On her hero's welcome home-coming, she says: "I was surprised to see them when my friend brought me home.
"Coming down the road, they were all down the side of the street cheering me on - and I thought 'what's it all about?'
"But I didn't realise just what it was about".
Her message to others is to listen to and follow the public health advice.
"If people take notice of what they're being told, they shouldn't have any difficulties.
"Going in where there's crowds, you know for a fact something's going to happen - but you don't know, but in your mind you do.
"Somebody's bound to get ill when they get into crowds".
Picture: Supplied
