Kildare mum and son queue for hours for solar eclipse glasses
Solar eclipses are extremely rare
A solar eclipse creates a sense of wonder for many, but for one Johnstown mother, it became a moment to stop the world and cherish the precious time she has with her young son.
Evelyn de Oliveira, a resident of Johnstown Village, travelled from Kildare to Dublin earlier today with her three-and-a-half-year-old son, Lucca, on a mission to secure a pair of eclipse glasses.
While the two-hour wait in a busy queue might have tested the patience of many, for Evelyn, every minute spent standing beside her little boy was a blessing.
Recently, Evelyn received a difficult diagnosis of an incurable illness. In the weeks since, she has found that the ordinary rhythm of life has taken on a profound new meaning.
"I recently received a difficult diagnosis of an incurable illness, and since then I feel as though I have started looking at life through different eyes," Evelyn shared with KildareNow.
"Small moments seem more beautiful now. Ordinary days feel more precious. And more than anything, the time I spend with my son has taken on an even deeper meaning."For Evelyn, the eclipse felt symbolic—a moment to be completely present. She noted that in her birth chart, the event occurred in a significant part of the sky, adding a personal weight to the day."
The thought crossed my mind that this could possibly be the last solar eclipse I ever get to experience with Lucca. I sincerely hope it won’t be," she said. "But that possibility was enough for me to think: we are staying in this queue, no matter how long it takes."
The experience was also highlighted by the kindness of strangers. While waiting in the long queue, Evelyn was touched when a fellow shopper kindly treated little Lucca to an ice cream, while helpful shop staff repeatedly offered the youngster water to keep him comfortable.
"Seeing people looking after a little child in the middle of such a busy day made the whole experience feel even warmer," she added.Earlier today, journalists from national outlets approached the pair, but a shy and emotional Evelyn was unable to share her story in the moment.
However, she decided to reach out to KildareNow later, wanting to ensure this special chapter was captured.By the end of the day, those eclipse glasses were far more than a simple souvenir.
“They meant the possibility of standing beside my little boy, looking up at the same sky together and creating another memory that belongs only to us," she said.