Thursday’s Morning Focus came live from Cahercalla Hospice’s fundraising coffee morning
People across Clare are being urged to come out at support a "coffee morning" in their community today to help raise vital funds for local hospice services.
Events are being held both across the county and country today for Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning with the aim of generating 2 million euro nationwide.
Cahercalla is amongst dozens nationwide hosting the Annual Coffee Morning in an effort to raise vital funds for hospice care – with all proceeds from events in Clare going to the local service – which is a not for profit organisation.
Mary Moloney- Fundraising Manager at Cahercalla Hospice – joined John Cooke for a chat
John also met Dan Keane from Ennis
Dan’s late brother Cornelius was 66 years old when he died in Cahercalla in January 2010
Dan is a native of Rosscarbery in West Cork but has been in Ennis for the past 45 years – his brother Cornelius was living there still
During his brother Cornelius’ Christmas visit in 2009 he fell ill and was diagnosed with cancer at Ennis General Hospital
He was brought to Cahercalla hospice for palliative care and died five weeks later. Dan says his brother received extraordinary care and so did he and his family and was very thankful to the staff at Cahercalla
Edel Maurice – the Ward Manager of newly refurbished St Joseph’s ward in Cahercalla had a word with John about the improvements made there recently
Trad musician and Clare FM presenter Joan Hanrahan came along with some very talented students from Rice College, Ennis
The group from the school sang, played music, and even danced for patients and staff
John had a chat with Claire McDonnell who works at Cahercalla at weekends, and Paul Farren – All Ireland U 15 fiddler champion
Rice College students visit Cahercalla Hospice a couple of times a year to play music, dance and sing for the residents
Traditional Musicians Eoin O’Neill and Quentin Cooper kindly gave their time to come along and entertain
Cahercalla Hospice Manager Maureen Hayward gave a day in the life of Cahercalla Hospice- Maureen will give a description of the daily goings on at Cahercalla
She will explain the technicalities of patients symptoms, profiles, types of care and the like
John also met Sister Eva of the Mercy Convent, St Xavier’s, who provides her services for patients’ spiritual needs
Activities Coordinator Joe Considine is leaving the Hospice to start a new life in Berlin but has had an amazing time as activities coordinator for the past three years
Morale and keeping spirits up is very important for patients and their loved ones
Incoming Activities Coordinator Paula McNamara began her job last week
This is Paula’s first week at Cahercalla and she described her plans for the patients and entertained us with a song
If you’d like to host a coffee morning in aid of Cahercalla Hospice call Mary on 065 6821966 and she’ll send you out a Bewley’s pack
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