Irish Grandmother Surprised With Trip to New York City for 80th Birthday
Olive Chester had no idea she was heading to the U.S.
— -- When Olive Chester arrived at Shannon Airport in Ireland on her 80th birthday, she had no idea that she'd be heading to New York City for the first time.
But thanks to her granddaughter, Lorraine Butler, a teacher now living in Russia, she was about to get the surprise of her life.
"I actually flew to Ireland first because she doesn't like flying by herself. So I went home and she thought that was the birthday surprise," Butler, 34, told ABC News. "But the second leg of the surprise was at the airport."
Butler captured the moment in a now-viral video, showing her grandmother looking over in disbelief after the ticket agent says, "You're going to New York!" Chester looks over to Butler and says, "Am I?" before hugging her granddaughter and cupping her hand over her mouth in shock.
"She was just shocked," Butler recalled. "She's still shocked but she's loving it. The cabin crew and passengers were so lovely. She said, 'I can’t believe I’m on this plane.'"
After the two landed in New York City on Monday, Chester and Butler have been all over town, including Times Square, the Empire State Building and even riding around downtown past the United Nations on a bus tour. Later this week, they plan to stop by Ellis Island and visit the Statue of Liberty.
Butler said she had to make her grandmother's dream come true because "she's my right hand."
"She's been so good to me over the years. She just deserves some payback for everything she’s done for me," the teacher explained.