Roscommon couple looking forward to getting home from Middle East after flight chaos

A Curraghboy couple are looking forward to making their way home from the Middle East after their flight was disrupted due to the escalating conflict in the region.

Bridgetta and Peter McHugh travelled to Abu Dhabi several weeks ago to visit their son Cathal, his wife Aoife from Lanesboro and their grandchild, Ayla who celebrated her first birthday on Saturday.

Cathal has been living and working in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the last eight years. Following a family together there, his parents were due to return to Ireland on Sunday, March 1st before their departure plans were affected by the travel chaos.

Speaking to the Herald on Friday, Bridgetta said that despite the current crisis in the region and the sound of missiles being intercepted overhead, they still did feel relatively safe.

“We’re not worried. We’re together here as a family and there isn’t a sense that the UAE is being attacked. They are intercepting the missiles flying over and we are experiencing those noises.

“It is quite loud but sporadic. We didn’t hear anything for a couple of days and then last night, it was particularly active. We do hear things around us and we are getting security alerts but we feel safe.

“There is no damage and nobody is going around terrified here,” she said.

Bridgetta said that she and her family are very aware of the current crisis in the region but added that it “wasn’t like the devastation in places like Gaza.”

“I would have to say that what I am seeing on the television is not really reflective of what we are experiencing.

“The UAE is relatively very safe. I worked out here ten years ago for two years and I have great respect for the UAE to be honest. They are lovely people themselves.

“This country is made up of a lot of ex-pats and people have had very good opportunities out here,” she explained.

She did feel however that it could be worrying times when it comes to the long-term future of people living and working in the Gulf states.

Bridgetta was due to be back at work on Monday of last week but described the flight disruption as an “inevitable consequence of what was going on”.

“Of course, we want to get back home and we have rescheduled for Wednesday. Please God, we will get home on Wednesday evening.”