Hospice group in Tipperary benefits to the tune of €10,000 from annual collection

Above: At the presentation of a cheque for €10,000 from the Rotary Club of Clonmel to South Tipperary Hospice Support Group, the proceeds of the annual Remembrance Tree collection before Christmas, were Seamus Ryan, president, Rotary Club of Clonmel; Liz Binchy and Maud Shee, South Tipperary Hospice Support Group; Mayor of Clonmel, Cllr Pat English, who contributed €500 from the Mayor’s Fund to the total; and Tom Duggan, project chairman, Rotary Club of Clonmel

The Rotary Club of Clonmel presented a cheque for €10,000 to the South Tipperary Hospice Support Group following the generous support from the people of Clonmel for their annual Remembrance Tree collection in the days leading up to Christmas.

Mayor Pat English contributed to the total with €500 from the Mayor’s Fund for worthy causes, and he joined Rotary Club president, Seamus Ryan, in presenting the cheque to Liz Binchy and Maud Shee from the Hospice Support Group at a function in Cluain Restaurant.

Liz Binchy thanked the Rotary Club for their support for the Hospice movement, not just this year, but over many years for their generous contribution.

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She knew that a lot of work, time and preparation went into the Remembrance Tree for nine days in the weeks before Christmas and the Hospice Support Group truly appreciated the effort.

“I would also like to thank Mayor Pat English for his contribution and I can assure everyone that the money will be put to the best possible use. I know that as well as people being generous with their contributions, and having their ribbons placed on the tree, they like to stop and chat about their loved ones who have passed on.

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“Just recently I know of a woman whose husband had died from cancer. The Hospice were there to support him in his last few days and she had been blown away by the excellent service that had been provided.

“Thank you again to Clonmel Rotary for supporting this work and I hope that you will do so again next year,” Mrs Binchy added.

Mayor English said he was delighted to be able to support the work of Rotary through his Mayor’s Fund, and praised the organisation for the tremendous work that it does, both locally and internationally.

“I know that you have been doing this in Clonmel for the past 55 years and I hope that the next 55 are as fruitful”, he said.

Mayor English said it was a magnificent achievement to hand over a cheque for €10,000 to Hospice and he urged the club to keep up the good work, name-checking club veteran and founder member Con Moroney, who was present at the handover.

Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy was also a guest at the event and paid tribute to Rotary for the service it has provided to the town and people of Clonmel for more than half a century.

He also congratulated the Hospice Support Group for its work and commended the compassion that Hospice always provides to those who need it most.

Presenting the cheque, Rotary president Seamus Ryan said that a lot of work goes into the Remembrance Tree, at two separate locations in the town, but it was also one of the most popular projects that the club undertakes because of where the funds go.

He singled out project chairman Tom Duggan for special praise, for his meticulous attention in organising his team and all the collectors at two separate locations in the town. Without that input, the collection wouldn’t have been the success it was, he said.

He thanked all the club members, their family and friends, who manned the trees, as well as members of the Hospice Support Group who provided members for the collection.

Mr Ryan also thanked Dunnes Stores for allowing a tree to be located at their Davis Road store, to Tipperary County Council for providing the trees, and to council workers who played such a key role in erecting the trees.

He also thanked the people of Clonmel who, once again, had been so generous in their support for Rotary and South Tipperary Hospice Support Group during the collection.