A DREAM finally became a reality this week when, after ten years of hoping, work at last began on Co Carlow’s Hospice.
Last Wednesday, the first sod was turned on the new four-bed palliative-care facility, located at Carlow’s District Hospital, a momentous moment for those who have worked tirelessly for a decade to make it happen.
“So many times over the last ten years we hit the ground but we got back up and I’m so glad we achieved it,” said Ann Byrne, director of County Carlow Hospice Committee. “As far as I’m concerned, we have achieved what we set out to achieve for the people of Carlow and I believe this is really very important for the community,” she added.
Photo: Sunderland Media
Bagenalstown-based company Demcon moved in on the site last Wednesday, with Anne, who has spearheaded the project since September 2006, turning the first sod. Ann was joined by committee members and those who worked on the project for the impromptu gathering to watch progress finally being made.
“We had so many setbacks, I could write a book at this stage. We worked really, really hard to make this happen and, of course, the fundraising by the people of Carlow has been incredible; they’ve been so loyal and kept going and going, even at times when people thought it wouldn’t happen,” said Ann.
Over ten years, an incredible €700,000 has been raised by the people of Carlow for the project, which will now go towards the capital costs of the project, while staffing will be maintained by the HSE.
“I always said that when the builder arrived on site, for my own personal satisfaction I’d open a bottle of champagne … so that’s what we did. It wasn’t planned or anything and it was a miserable, cold day, but that was it,” said Ann.
She admits that relief was probably the abiding emotion of the historic day for the hospice and that it was “kind of an anti-climax”, given the extraordinary battle the committee has waged to make the hospice happen. During much of this battle, brought on by never-ending HSE red tape and the economic crash, the support of former hospice committee chairperson, the late John McDermott, never faltered. John passed away in March 2015.
“It was very strange: as I put the shovel into the earth, I kept thinking about John and thinking ‘my God, he has missed this’. Maybe that was why I didn’t feel excited, because he wasn’t there,” Ann said poignantly.
County Carlow Hospice will be named Cúram, the Irish for ‘care’, and will have its own separate entrance at Carlow District Hospital on the Athy Road. The facility will include four palliative care en suite rooms, while each room will have its own private patio area. A family room, an oratory/quiet room and a reception area will also be part of the carefully-designed facility.
A peaceful, family-friendly environment will ensure that those in our community suffering with terminal illnesses are provided with a care setting that ensures dignity and comfort in their final days.
The building work is expected to take six months to complete, with the doors scheduled to finally open on County Carlow Hospice in February/March 2017.
