Hospice Hero awarded Lifetime Achievement Award

(William Tilly, pictured with his family (from left) Suzanne Tilly, Dave Tilly, Saoirse Mayland-Tilly (8), Emma Tilly (18), Ava Tilly-Rock (13) and Johanna Tilly-Rock, who has raised over €175,000 through his annual Christmas lights display and other projects. PHOTO: Mark Stedman)

Today Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services awarded a ‘Hospice Hero Lifetime Achievement Award’ to one of its long-standing fundraisers, 86 year old Mr William Tilly, who has raised over €175,000 through his annual Christmas lights display and other projects.

Mr Tilly is renowned for having one of Ireland’s most decorated houses every festive season.

William Tilly, pictured with his grandchildren (from left) Ava Tilly-Rock (13), Saoirse Mayland-Tilly (8) and Emma Tilly (18) PHOTO: Mark Stedman

For 26 years, he has decorated his home and garden in Bath Avenue Gardens with an array of Christmas lights and for the last eleven years he has fundraised for Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services raising over €175,000 from this and other activities.

Audrey Houlihan, Chief Executive Officer, Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services said: “We rely heavily on donations from the community to provide our much-needed services and are so grateful to all who give so generously to us.

“Today we celebrate this well-deserved ‘Hospice Hero Lifetime Achievement Award’ made to Mr William Tilly.

“He is a real inspiration to us all and we are honoured to have such loyal support from Mr Tilly and all who support his efforts.

“Thanks to his hard work, he has raised over €175,000 for Lady’s Hospice & Care Services, which is an exceptional achievement.

“His Christmas lights bring joy to many and shine a light on Hospice care.”

William Tilly, pictured with Audrey Houlihan, CEO of Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services. PHOTO: Mark Stedman

Speaking about the award, Mr Tilly said: “I am really delighted by this award. It means a lot to me, my family and my local community.

“I’m a long-time supporter of Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services since they cared for my Uncle Dan and Aunt Julia years ago.

“This year we raised almost €20,000, which was fantastic, particularly because of Covid-19.

“It’s all down to the people of the area, all those who come especially to visit and the sports fans who drop by on their way to the nearby Aviva stadium.

“I’d also like to thank the Bath House, who support this project by contributing to the cost of the electricity bill.

“The display takes three weeks set-up and pack away.

“I do most of the wiring and repairs as I worked in the ESB for 32 years.

“In recent years I focus on the garden and let my grandchildren tackle the house and roof!”