A 95-year-old man from Knocknagree in Co Cork, was the first resident of a private or public nursing home in the south of the country to receive the Covid-19 vaccination.
John Cremin received the vaccination under a roll-out programme organised by HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare.
A resident of St Columbanus Community Hospital in Killarney for the past seven years, Mr Cremin said he was delighted as a proud Corkman to receive the first vaccine administered in Kerry.
The father of four, who loves music and card playing, which he has sadly missed in recent times, urged everyone to avail of the vaccine when they can.
Mr Cremin was the first of 100 residents and 200 staff at the HSE residential facility in Killarney to receive the vaccine today under the programme.
Everybody wants it. There is no feeling of fear or anything. It is welcomed with open arms.
The facility's Director of Nursing, Máire Flynn, was the first staff member to receive it.
She said "it is like Christmas all over again today".
The residents are very excited, she said.
"They are all delighted, they feel they can see an end to the hard 2020 that we've had. We've all had a challenging time, the whole community has, and they are really ready for this.
"They see it as the way forward and the only way out of this. Everybody wants it. There is no feeling of fear or anything. It is welcomed with open arms," she said.
Ms Flynn said she is proud to lead her staff and the residents into the vaccination programme.
"I was very proud to sit beside a 95 year old - John Cremin from Knocknagree - who is here in our residential centre since 2013," she said.
"He is representing all the wonderful residents here, I am representing the staff and we were proud to share that moment together."
It is expected that more than 3,500 residents and staff at 20 facilities in Cork, and ten in Kerry, will have received a first dose of the vaccine by the end of next week, with all doses to be administered by the end of February at more than 100 locations across the two counties.
These will include all community hospitals and private nursing homes in the two counties.
The HSE has described the roll-out as a 'tremendous undertaking' and thanked staff for helping to get it delivered 'quickly and safely.'
