Sheila Cassidy does her skydive with tandem master Dave from the Irish Parachute Club

Sheila Cassidy does her skydive with tandem master Dave from the Irish Parachute Club at Clonbollogue in Offaly.

A 68-year-old woman conquered her fear of heights this week when she jumped out of a plane from 10,000 feet in a tandem skydive.

Mother-of-five Sheila Cassidy, who lives in Kilcoole, Co Wicklow, got a voucher for the sky dive in January from her eldest son, and finally decided to take on her fear after months of trepidation.

"When my name was called I thought, 'oh Jesus'," she laughs.

"If I was standing on a very high building, I would have a fear of heights, but the funny thing is, you feel like you're jumping into nothing."

"I had my eyes closed for the most of it. I have to say I enjoyed it and I'm thinking I wouldn't mind doing it again."

Sheila has five children Michael Jr (39), Helen (37), Philip (35), Ann-Marie (33), and Jennifer (31), and three grand children. Two of her children encouraged her to jump having taken the adrenaline-fuelled plunge themselves.

"My son and daughter were encouraging me to do it. My son has done a few jumps, and my daughter did one in New Zealand."

"I felt relieved and kept thinking I can't believe I've done it. Next time I think I won't be as nervous."

"It was something I was thinking about doing for a long time. Then my son bought me a voucher and I thought 'now or never'."

Sheila was the oldest person doing the jump that day, but she was buouyed by the fact that she'd heart of a man in his 90s doing one before here.

"My son kept telling me that his friend's father did it in his 90s. At a certain age you have to produce a doctor's letter to say that you're fit and healthy, so I did that."

"I remember the guy telling me to keep your hands on the harness, and I'll tap you on the shoulders to put your hands out in front of you. But I don't remember him tapping me on the shoulder."

"I felt myself falling and then the rush of the air. You don't feel like you're falling and then I felt the parachute being released, and then he was turning it around and showing me the sights."

"We were coming down gradually and he was twisting and turning."

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