KATHLEEN O’Farrell, from Baldoyle, has been crowned the Woman’s Way & Lidl Dublin Mum of the Year.
Ms O’Farrell won a regional award in the national competition after being nominated by her daughter Kathleen junior.
“While my mother had six kids of her own, there are over 60 foster children out there who have called her
‘mam’ at some stage,
? said Kathleen junior.
“One of these children is now 19 and has been long-term fostered by Mam and Dad, having first come to us at 10-months-old.
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Kathleen and her husband have been fostering for over 25 years and always felt
“there was room for one more in our home
?.
One moment that really stands out for Kathleen junior was when her mother made the very tough decision of taking in a baby who had been starved of oxygen at birth and wasn’t expected to live longer than a few days.
Kathleen brought the little girl home to die and even postponed her 60th birthday to care for her.
“It was a hard decision but we brought her home thinking that she wasn’t going to pull through,
? she explained.
“We were told to hold her tight and then let her go. Amazingly that little girl survived and just celebrated her first birthday.
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Speaking following her win Kathleen said:
“I’m delighted to be one of the winners; it means a lot.
? She also praised her daughter stating:
“She’s so good. She’s the only girl in the family so she’s always been a bit special.
“I’ve five boys and one girl and it just goes to show that big families can be happy families.
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