Tipperary hospice heroes awarded ahead of coffee morning fundraiser

A trio of North Tipperary ‘hospice heroes’ have received national recognition for their fundraising and volunteering efforts.

Kathleen and Connie Grace have opened up their home in Cloughjordan for more than 25 years to host the Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice fundraiser.

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The couple will be back brewing up a storm for an army of friends and relatives in aid of North Tipperary Hospice Movement at their home on Thursday, September 25.

Running right across Ireland, this year’s Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice aims to raise over €2 million and officially takes place on the same day, but supporters can host or attend a coffee morning on a date that suits them, with every cent raised locally going to their local Hospice.

The Graces’ tireless work was recently honoured at the iconic Dublin café, where they were presented with a Together for Hospice Hero award, alongside Hospice volunteer Kay O’Donoghue, one of the main drivers of the hospice movement in Nenagh.

Kathleen and Connie’s fundraising journey was sparked by the tragic loss of their son Liam, who died aged eight in 1986.

A year later, the couple began to support Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin, where Liam had been cared for.

In 2000, after meeting two members of the Nenagh Area Committee, which fundraises for North Tipperary Hospice Movement, they began hosting coffee mornings and haven’t looked back since.

“The care they give is brilliant, as well as the homecare; they are amazing people,” said Kathleen.

“As long as I have my strength, I’ll keep on raising money for them.”

Retired businesswoman Kay, meanwhile, became chairperson of North Tipperary’s Nenagh Area Committee in 2003, a position she held until 2020.

With the support of her husband John, she was also a board member and was mainly responsible, along with Lelia Kelly and Florrie Purcell, for the establishment of the Cancer Support Centre, Suaimhneas in Nenagh.

Spectacular annual fundraising events, particularly a gala night organised by Kay and friends Maura and Nóilin Ryan, have raised €500,000 over 15 years.

“It’s a wonderful organisation and our committee is absolutely amazing, the work that they put in on a voluntary basis has been fantastic, and that made my job as chairperson easy and pleasant,” said Kay, who lives in Burgess.

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“I’m Treasurer at the moment and I’d be very passionate about Hospice care.”

Personal experience of their work, when her father became ill, illustrated how vital the service has become.

“In 1999, my dad Dinny Maher died from lung cancer, and the amount of help we got from North Tipperary Hospice - they came into our house.

“Even on Christmas Day, the hospice nurses arrived three times at different stages.

“We had no medical knowledge on how to look after him and they helped us every step of the way. We used to call them angels of mercy.

“The year after, I joined the committee as I wanted to give something back.”

Together for Hospice, The National Hospice Movement, represents 24 Hospice and specialist palliative homecare providers supporting patients and their families across Ireland.

Fundraised income is used by local hospice services to fund new buildings, refurbishment of existing buildings, staff, extra comforts for patients and their families, and innovative patient care projects nationwide.

Funds raised through Together For Hospice campaigns support some of the core services funded by the HSE.

You can register to host a coffee morning on Thursday, September 25, or on a date that suits you, at www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie, or call 0818 995 996.

If you cannot host or attend a coffee morning, you can donate at: www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate.