Ageing with Alzheimers

Posted on 30. Jul, 2020 in Christian Values, Chronic illness, Community, Health, Mental Health

Des O’Grady SJ currently works as a chaplain in Dundrum central mental hospital. He himself was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers and in this first of at three part series from the archive, he talks candidly about his experience and the learning he has received from it. He says that the disease has given him more […]

Loss and Hope

Posted on 02. Apr, 2020 in Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Health, Hospice, Relationships

With the Coronavirus sweeping across the globe, people are more aware of our fragility and loss. In this piece from the archives we look back at “Irish Stories of Loss and Hope” a book published by Hospice Foundation.  They wanted to help show people … “the individual nature of grief, the difficulties that grieving brings and […]

Surviving Leukaemia

Posted on 02. Jan, 2020 in Cancer, Chronic illness, Health

A cancer diagnosis is something that everybody dreads. Brenda Drumm of the Catholic Communications Office in Maynooth heard the news that she had leukaemia in Jan 2007.  In this piece for 2009, she tells her story to Miriam Gormally and explains how the disease changed her life.

Prayer and Service with Alzheimers

Posted on 20. Sep, 2018 in Chronic illness, Community, Different abilities, Gospel Values

In this second part of our three part series, Des O’Grady SJ, talks about working with Alzheimers and in particular leading prayer, saying mass and doing his job. He currently works as a chaplain in Dundrum central mental hospital and says the disease gives him insight into those he serves in Dundrum who also have […]

Alzheimer Cafe

Posted on 06. Nov, 2014 in Charity, Chronic illness

Alzheimer Cafes provide a warm and welcoming space for people with dementia, their family and friends and social and health care professionals to meet, exchange insights and ideas. They are run for a few hours on the same evening each month and are led by a mix of organisations, professionals, carers, people with dementia and […]

Elma Walsh

Posted on 05. Dec, 2013 in Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Health, Prayer, Relationships, Suicide, Volunteering

Elma Walsh, mother of Donal Walsh who passed on long before his time, speaks bravely here with Fr Alan Neville MSC about Donal’s final message before his passing.  Donal Walsh, the Kerry teenager who touched so many lives when he came to prominence through his writings and subsequent appearance on Brendan O’Connor’s ‘The Saturday Night […]

World Day of the Sick

Posted on 04. Feb, 2009 in Cancer, Chronic illness, Health

February 11th – the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes – is set aside as a day to remember all those who are sick.  Loreto Sister Nan O’Mahony, is chairperson of the National Association of Hospital Chaplains and is based in the Marymount Hospice in Cork. Eileen Good asked her if she thought it was […]

MS Readathon

Posted on 01. Oct, 2008 in Chronic illness, Fundraising, Health, Young people

The MS READaTHON is a sponsored read for young people all over the country. Organised through schools and libraries, it encourages children to read books and raise much money for much needed services for people living with MS. Miriam Gormally spoke with two children, Milo and Síobhra from the Montessori Education Centre in Dublin who […]

Response to Terminal

Posted on 30. Apr, 2008 in Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Health, Hospice

Every day, all over the country, people await the result of hospital tests. It’s an anxious time, for the person themselves and their family.  For many the results are fine, but for others, sadly, they are not – and they trigger a range of emotions trying to take bad news on board. Eileen Good spoke […]

Daffodil Day

Posted on 20. Feb, 2008 in Cancer, Chronic illness, Health, Hospice

Friday March 7th, we will see people all over the country gathering to sell and buy daffodils. The money raised from all these daffodils will help cancer patients throughout the country. Miriam Gormally met Isobel Thompson who suffered from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and who is now working as a volunteer for Daffodil Day. She began by […]