Ashbourne Resident Cleared of Lyme Disease After Treatment in Germany
Anne-Marie Doyle, an Ashbourne resident who spent years bedbound by advanced Lyme disease, is now free of the infection following specialised medical care in Germany, the Meath Chronicle reported on October 23, 2026. While tests confirm the infection is gone, Doyle continues to manage lingering neurological symptoms and ongoing immune support therapy.
The illness began in February 2022, causing multiple bodily systems to fail and leaving Doyle unable to speak, eat, or sleep for more than two hours at a time, even with medication. Her weight dropped to 48 kilograms, or 7.5 stones. Before falling ill, she worked in social care supporting women and children fleeing domestic violence, survivors of the Magdalene laundries, and children with special needs, alongside teaching yoga.
Exhaustive Medical Search Precedes Overseas Care
Over a multi-year period, Doyle consulted numerous specialists, including cardiologists, neurologists, immunologists, infectious disease doctors, gastroenterologists, and sleep experts. Her care regimen included multiple rounds of antibiotics, a cardiac rehabilitation programme, a breathing rehabilitation tool, 50 sessions in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and two years with a specialist physiotherapist. When her medical team exhausted available options without restoring her health, her grandmother connected her with a relative experiencing similar symptoms who had been diagnosed with Lyme disease.
UK tests subsequently confirmed chronic Lyme disease. The couple believes the infection stems from living near Killarney National Park in County Kerry during 2016 and 2017, a known tick hotspot where they hiked frequently without seeing public warning notices.
Treatment Abroad Scheme Limits Coverage for Doyle
Because the Health Service Executive’s Treatment Abroad Scheme limits standard Lyme disease coverage to a two-week course of antibiotics, it did not cover Doyle’s advanced care abroad. After exhausting their personal savings, Doyle and her husband Darragh moved in with their parents and launched a GoFundMe campaign to finance the trip to Klinik St Georg in Bad Aibling, Germany.
In October 2025, Doyle travelled to Germany for a triple course of antibiotics and hyperthermia treatments, where her body was placed under anaesthesia and heated to over 40 degrees for two hours on two separate occasions. Darragh Doyle noted that while the procedure required intensive recovery in the ICU, her energy levels returned a week after the second session, allowing her to clear the infection and treat concurrent co-infections.
Navan Fitness Challenge Supports Ongoing Recovery Costs
DGC Studios in Navan is hosting a fundraiser named “Every Beat Counts” on October 31, 2026. More than 40 participants will complete a five-hour fitness challenge wearing live heart rate monitors to accumulate 62,000 Heart Points, mirroring the €62,000 required for Doyle’s treatment. Darragh Doyle is scheduled to deliver an opening talk at 8:00 AM, and the couple’s GoFundMe campaign remains active to help cover ongoing medical expenses as Doyle builds her strength to return to work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anne-Marie Doyle’s Treatment
Why did Anne-Marie Doyle have to travel to Germany for Lyme disease care?
The Health Service Executive’s Treatment Abroad Scheme does not cover the specialized protocols required for chronic or late-stage Lyme disease, which often fail to respond to standard two-week antibiotic courses. This funding gap forced Doyle and her husband to rely on personal savings and a public fundraising campaign to access care at Klinik St Georg in Bad Aibling.
What specific treatments did Doyle undergo in Germany?
At the German clinic, Doyle received a triple course of antibiotics alongside treatments for co-infections. She also underwent hyperthermia therapy on two occasions, which involved general anaesthesia while her body temperature was gradually raised to over 40 degrees for two hours before being cooled back to normal.
How can the public support Doyle’s ongoing medical expenses?
DGC Studios in Navan is hosting a five-hour fitness challenge called “Every Beat Counts” on October 31, 2026, where participants will raise funds through physical exertion and heart rate tracking. Donors can contribute directly to the ongoing medical fund through Doyle's active GoFundMe campaign.