Maeve Keane Celebrates 85th Birthday with Thrilling Flight

Maeve Keane, an adventurous spirit from Craughwell, celebrated her 85th birthday in a remarkable way by piloting a four-seater light aircraft. The flight took place at Preston Airfield in Pennsylvania, USA, where she soared over the Atlantic coast for an hour, fulfilling a long-held dream.

Keane has a history of unique birthday celebrations. For her 80th birthday, she drove a Ferrari around the track at Mondello, and at 83, she ascended into the sky in a hot air balloon. These experiences highlight her passion for adventure and living life to the fullest.

“I was flying for an hour – it was one of the things on my bucket list,” said Maeve. She expressed joy in the experience, dismissing any nerves she might have felt. “There’s an instructor there with you, so you have help if you need it. And I did a couple of times when he was showing me different sights because I’d pull the handle in the direction I was looking,” she laughed.

Maeve’s journey to the United States spanned a month, during which she visited her nephew and spent two weeks in both New York and Pennsylvania. Reflecting on her past, she noted, “When I was young, I didn’t have the opportunity or the money to do these things. It’s great now to be able to do them.”

With a wealth of experiences behind her, Maeve has no intentions of slowing down. She has an extensive list of aspirations yet to be realized. Next on her agenda is a return trip to the United States, where she plans to take a helicopter ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. “That’d be a good one because it’d tick off the two things – the Grand Canyon and the helicopter,” she remarked enthusiastically.

Maeve Keane’s story is a testament to the notion that age is merely a number. Her determination to embrace life through thrilling adventures serves as an inspiration to others, proving that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.