A Donegal woman is trying desperately to return to Ireland from the US for her only sister’s wedding in two weeks time.
Aideen Gilmore is one of thousands of people caught up in travel restrictions because of Covid.
The White House said this week that US travel restrictions affecting countries including Ireland, the UK and most of Europe will be kept in place for now due to the rise of the Delta variant of Covid-19.
The measures were introduced in March 2020 and have had a major impact on many Irish people who live and work in the United States.
Aideen lives in Washington DC.
She has been working in the US for five years but if she goes home to Ireland, she will not be able to get back into America.
Aideen cannot re-enter the US under Covid travel restrictions because of the type of visa she holds.
It means she has not been home to Donegal for nearly two years.
“To be 20 months away from your family and not knowing when you are going to see them again has been very tough,” she told RTE.
“There have been family friends and neighbours who have died and I have had to watch funerals over Zoom which has obviously been very upsetting,” Aideen said.
She said she is desperate to get home for Claire’s wedding.
“I don’t know what to do. Should I take a risk and go home in the hope that they’ll lift the restrictions?” Aideen asked. “I can’t fathom missing my only sister’s wedding.”
