75-year-old grandmother completes Offaly skydive

A Co. Tipperary grandmother beat a fear of heights to skydive 13,000ft today and immediately declare on landing, “we did it for Gaza”.

Mary McDonnell (75), a retired nurse from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, took the mammoth plunge today with her son Mike from Skydive Ireland’s airstrip at Clonbullogue, to raise funds and awareness for victims of the war in Gaza.

She not alone beat the fear of heights but sleepless nights and loss of appetite over recent days before taking on the flight.

And then a two and a half-hour delay due to earlier technical difficulties pushed back flights across the afternoon before they mother and son finally boarded just short of 3pm.

Twenty minutes or so later, following a climb to 13,000 feet, Mary, whose husband Mike Snr passed away five years ago, and her son were out of the aircraft to a freezing but blue-sky freefall and parachute release that definitely brought different reactions.

“I didn’t like it, not one second of it. I didn’t expect to like it. I’d go as far as to say terrifying, but I did it and I did it for the men, women and children who are losing their lives in the horror that goes on every minute in Gaza,” said Mary as she emerged from the hanger.

“They are what got me on the aircraft, out of the aircraft and it’s a small price to pay for the incredible response that we have received for this incredible cause. So, while I can’t say I enjoyed a single second of it, it was so worth it.”

Said Mike, “It was all about the cause and the support we got was amazing. I can’t get over what we’ve raised. We set out to try and get to €2,000 but we’re at over €27,000 now and I have to concede the ground and the skies to mam on this one, it’s all about her and she’s been incredibly brave.

“It’s fair to say she didn’t enjoy the build-up and certainly not the jump, as you just heard. But she’s full of courage.

“I was the lucky one in that I actually enjoyed it. The weather was as good as you could hope for this time of year and you are out of the plane before you know it.

“It was freezing on the face, especially in the freefall piece, but the view up there down to here was just unbelievable.”

Mary’s entire family – her son Colm and daughters Maeve and Sarah – sons-in-law, daughters-in-law plus grandchildren, sister Lelia, nephews, nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews and many friends were on hand to cheer her as she departed and loudly celebrate her as she landed.

There was a nervous moment as staff went to her assistance on landing but only to help her overcome momentary nausea from spinning during the descent.

A short time later she was up on her feet and shouted to her well-wishers, “I did it for Gaza”.

Said her daughter Maeve, “She’s amazing. She’s so brave and a bit of a daredevil. She went through a lot to do this but that’s mam.

“You just wonder what’s next but whatever it is, there will be a cause behind it and there’s no cause greater than this one today. Even now, after all this, she will tell you, it was worth every single one of those 13,000ft.

“Dad would have been so proud. He’d have been laughing and cheering us on at the same time.”

The ‘GoFundMe’ appeal will remain open until next weekend, with proceeds going to Medical Aid for Palestinians and Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.