Marymount unveils commemorative sculpture to mark its 150th year

Marymount unveiled a commemorative sculpture to mark 2020 as its 150^th year of service. Entitled ‘On Life’s Journey’ and sculpted by artist Helen Sinclair the piece has been erected at the entrance to the Marymount building and is a symbol of hope and light as it centres on an individual’s life cycle.

Speaking at the launch: Sarah McCloskey, Marymount CEO said:

“We are honoured to unveil this sculpture today to mark 2020 as our 150^th year of service. It is an equally impressive and humbling moment to mark 150 years of providing much needed palliative and elderly care services to the people of Cork and beyond. We have a huge legacy from our founding Sisters of Charity and Dr Patrick Murphy who, alongside the people of Cork, funded our original building in Cork City, to the many individuals and companies of today’s Cork that continue to support Marymount in so many different ways.

“Marymount
has been an important part of so many people’s lives across many generations.
We are part of the history of Cork and part of its future too. A lot has
changed since our initial services opened – from medical practices to access to
health information to our physical building. However what remains is the ethos
and vision of Marymount – we continue to strive to provide exceptional care to
the dependant older person and for those with life limiting illness.  And
we continue to work with each person, each family with dignity compassion and
respect. These essential elements have remained a constant throughout our 150
years.

To make the
launch day extra special for patients in Marymount the River Lee Hotel group
held an afternoon tea for patients and staff. 2020 will also be a bumper year
for Marymount fundraising with many events and campaigns scheduled to support
the 150^th year.

“We could not
do the work we do alone,” explains Dr McCloskey. “On behalf of Marymount, I am
so thankful to everyone who has supported us in any way and who continues to do
so. Fundraising is part of the lifeblood of Marymount – from donations of money
and services to get the original building opened in 1870 to the remarkable €26 million fundraised by the Friends of
Marymount to ensure this building in Curraheen opened in 2011.

“Each year we
need to raise €3.5 million to deliver our current
level of services and to enable us to continue to grow.  The numbers of
people accessing our services has doubled in the last decade and we will
continue to strive to reach more families and to develop our education/
research institute.

Each year the
people and community of Cork step up and help us to do this. We are so grateful
to you all and we hope to see you at some of our 150 years events this year.”

To get
involved in 2020 you can do so by running an event to mark 150 years of our
service in Cork, or by sponsoring one of our planned projects/events. You can
contact our fundraising team at 021 4501201 or email fundraising@marymount.ie.

A full schedule of Marymount events for its 150^th Year is available here , you can also find the full schedule for an International Palliative Care Conference on 8 & 9^th October on www.marymount.ie

Cork people continue to give.

Tadhg, Helen & Eddie dropped off €3,000 they helped raise over Christmas. They organised the Dingle Dip and even braved the icy Christmas water themselves.
Well done to everyone who dipped for Marymount.

The gang from the Donoughmore Macra Na Feirme were also in to hand over an amazing €1200.
They held a coffee morning to raise the money.
Thank you for taking your time to help Marymount.

If you would like to help Marymount with either a one off donation or host your own event, you can get all the details on how by clicking the link. https://www.marymount.ie/

A Massive Thank You

Fiona and Will from De Courcey ABC held a Christmas event in December in aid of Marymount Hospice and raised an amazing €1010.00!

It’s people like Fiona and Will that make Marymount the place that it is. We couldn’t do what we do without the generosity of the public.

‘Raising Dough for Marymount’ Book Launch

Rochestown Park Hotel Executive Chef Gary Burke officially launches his book, Raising Dough for Marymount, on Thursday October 10.

From local favourites like Timoleague sticky pork ribs, Ballycotton chunky seafood chowder and Mahon knickerbocker glory, to mouth-watering inventions like duck pastilla roll with roasted plums and guacamole, the recipes from this Cork cookbook will delight everyone around the table. From a Cork chef who loves his work, this is food for young and old alike. Children will love chocolate cornflakes with popping candy, while blackened turkey tacos with bean salsa and avocado or chocolate soufflé with Jameson Anglaise will go down a treat with all the family.

The money raised from this cookbook will help Marymount Hospice to continue offering the support and services it provides to so many Cork families. Its safe, calm environment allows families to share those last precious moments with their loved ones, and its renowned comfort and care is appreciated by so many in the community.

This book is for everyone who loves food and wants to get more out of their family time and cooking.

You can register (for free) to attend the launch HERE.

Minister for Health launches Palliative Care Week and urges people to have conversations about their care

Sunday, September 8

Minister for Health Simon Harris TD has today (Sunday 8 September) launched Palliative Care Week aimed at encouraging more people to learn about palliative care.

The number of people aged over 65 is set to increase by almost 80 per cent over the next 20 years and Ireland has the most rapidly rising need for palliative care in Europe.

Palliative Care Week is coordinated by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC), across the island of Ireland.

AIIHPC Director Karen Charnley said she hoped Palliative Care Week will encourage people to learn more about palliative care.

Palliative care focuses on helping a person, of any age, with any life-limiting illness, to achieve the best quality of life. It involves the management of pain and other symptoms and provides support for social, emotional and spiritual needs, and can be provided at home, in a nursing home, hospital or hospice.

Ms Charnley said: “In the Republic of Ireland, the number of people over 65 is projected to increase by almost 80% from 673,400 in 2018 to almost 1.2 million by 2038. Advances in public health, medicine and technology mean that people are living for many more years today than previous generations and this is something to be celebrated.

“As populations age, the pattern of diseases that people live with and die from changes. As well as being for people with advanced cancer, palliative care is also for people living with advanced heart or lung disease, kidney failure and other conditions such as motor neurone disease or dementia.

“Although the number of people over 65 is a key factor in determining the needs of palliative care services in populations, many people well below the age of 65, including from birth, will require palliative care due to their life-limiting illness or condition.

“Palliative Care Week aims to raise awareness of the difference palliative care can make to people with a life-limiting illness or condition, to carers and to families throughout the island of Ireland. This year’s theme ‘Palliative Care: Surrounding You With Support’, is focusing on how people with palliative care needs are being supported in the community. As we create conversations around palliative care, particularly involving people with direct experience, we hope more people will feel empowered to think about how palliative care could help them.”

Paul FitzPatrick from Coolock is supported by St Francis Hospice in Raheny. In January 2018, he was diagnosed with a life-changing condition: a lung disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Before he became ill, he was working full-time as a truck driver and living an active life which included plenty of trips to the park with his six grandchildren.

Speaking at the launch of Palliative Care Week 2019, Paul said: “After the first couple of sessions I could feel my breathing getting better and I could start to do the simple things in life, like going up the stairs or going to the shops which I found very hard to manage before. From being down in the hospice and the treatment I’ve got down there, and the love and care and kindness has helped me progress through this and from this time last year I’m out and about which I thought I’d never be able to do again.”

Speaking ahead of Palliative Care Week, Minister Harris said: “Palliative Care Week provides an opportunity to highlight the positive impact that palliative care can have in improving quality of life for people diagnosed with a life-limiting or life-threatening illness. I would like to thank those who are sharing their stories with us during this Week.”

On palliative care provision in Ireland, Minister Harris said “We in Ireland can be proud of our position as a leading nation in the provision of palliative care. The Department of Health and the HSE remain committed to ensuring that Ireland’s palliative care system is fit for purpose, and offers targeted care to patients who avail of these services.”

Sheilagh Reaper-Reynolds, HSE Planning Lead for Palliative Care, said: “Palliative care services are vitally important for people living with a progressive illness that may limit or shorten their lives, and also for the people who care for them. The purpose of Palliative Care Week is to help us explain how much palliative services can improve a person’s quality of life throughout the course of their illness. The focus for 2019 is on how people with palliative care needs are being supported right across our health services including primary care, hospices, hospitals and nursing homes. This support also stretches beyond formal health and social care services to include the many volunteers and support organisations working in the wider community.”