South Tipperary Hospice fundraiser concert to take place in October

Standing ovations and a hugely entertained sell-out crowd are the order of the day for the annual South Tipperary Hospice concert in Hotel Minella, and no less is expected again on Friday 23 October for this year's event.

Music From Stage and Screen is the theme of the concert this year that has a very talented line-up of performers scheduled to participate.

Any opportunity to hear and see Clonmel man Joe Roche and his wife Polly sing should not be passed up, and they top the bill again this year.

They will be joined by Emmet Donlan and Adrea Ruth Houlihan, and of course the maestro himself, Danny Carroll, will guide the magnificent Clonmel Concert Band through another performance. Niall Carroll will, as usual, be the MC for the night.

The event has sold out every year since it started in 2013, as the hosts John and Liz Nallen roll out the red carpet for the stars of the show and give a warm welcome to the sell-out crowds that come to be entertained, as well as demonstrating their wholehearted support for South Tipperary Hospice and the work it does for so many families faced with difficult health challenges.

The concert is organised by a committee, some of whom Ruth Butler, Gail McGrath, Angela Keavney and Bred Ryan have been involved since 2013 when the first concert fundraiser was held.

DanyCarroll said the Hospice concert was the highlight of the year for the members of the Clonmel Concert Band.

“Everybody in the band would have had some family member or some near family member who were looked after by the Hospice. This concert is very important to our members

The services provided by South Tipperary Hospice are constantly growing to meet demand, and new services are being introduced in an exciting new era for the charity, which is due to move into a modern new home on The Quay in Clonmel before the end of the year.

“Our new home at Tower House will allow us to deliver those services and support people throughout South Tipperary. This move reflects the growing demand that is there for the services the Hospice provides, and it will allow everybody involved in the Hospice to meet the needs of people in a very practical way,” said Sean O’Donovan, Chairman of South Tipperary Hospice.

The Hospice now intervenes much earlier in terms of supporting people who need palliative care and is there to be involved and support families from diagnosis onwards.

The Hospice also supports people who do not have a cancer diagnosis but are coping with life-limiting conditions.

Sean O’Donovan said the concert gives people a good night out, but it was also an opportunity for the Hospice team to meet and thank people from communities throughout Tipperary for their unwavering support and incredible generosity.

“ We would not be able to provide any of these vital services without the loyal support of so many people, and the concert is an occasion that allows us to show our appreciation for decades of invaluable support,” said Sean O’Donovan.

While the new building is an important milestone for the Hospice, which was founded in, the Hospice is also involved in supporting other crucial cancer care developments.

The Hospice has provided significant funding for the provision of two Level 2 beds in Cluain Arran in a modern development, which are due to be opened soon in Tipperary Town.

The Hospice has also contributed financially to the opening of three Level 2 palliative care beds in the Clonmel Residential Community Centre (formerly known as St Anthony’s), which are due to be up and running in a couple of weeks.

“The Hospice is delighted to make a contribution towards the provision of these vital services which will serve generations to come in local communities. We liaise very closely with the palliative care services who provide a great service in South Tipperary and West Waterford,” said the Hospice chairman, in addition to the ones that already exist, two Level 2 beds in Clogheen and one inCashel.

The services provided by South Tipperary Hospice were expanded again just under a year ago when a children's and adolescent grief support service for young people aged 4 to 18 who have experienced bereavement was launched.

The new initiative aims to ensure that no child, teen, or family in south Tipperary or west Waterford has to face grief alone.

“Such a service is not available from the HSE without a long waiting list. There is a demand for the new service provided by the Hospice, and it has the backing of primary and secondary schools in the area. The service is for young people who have suffered a loss in their family, not just through cancer, and the service is available very quickly,” said Sean O’Donovan.

“We saw there was a need for such a service in this area. We worked very closely with the Grief Support Centre in Limerick, and they were instrumental in helping us to establish the service in Tipperary,” said the Hospice chairman.

Other services available through South Tipperary Hospice include the voluntary driver scheme with volunteers driving people to hospital appointments.

“We are always on the lookout for new volunteers. We are very grateful to all of the volunteer drivers we have. They are very busy, and we could do with recruiting more voluntary drivers,” said Sean O’Donovan.

There is also a counselling service for adults for people with life-limiting conditions and their families. The Hospice also provides carers in homes, a bereavement support group, music therapy and there is also a wide range of therapies provided.

“The Hospice, as well as supporting palliative care it now intervenes when there is a diagnosis so that the Hospice can be of immediate benefit to people,” said Sean O’Donovan.