North Dublin woman honoured with national award for 34 years of Hospice support

A North Dublin woman has been honoured with a national award for her tireless efforts supporting her local Hospice.

Isabella O’Brien, has been a rock of support for St Francis Hospice for the last 29 years, and she has urged the public to raise a cup for the care they bring to the community.

Isabella has been hosting coffee mornings to support the Hospice’s work since her father’s death, and has tragically lost many other members of her family to cancer, including her twin sister.

However, the Donnycarney mother, who has raised over €27,000 to date, views the fundraisers as opportunities to connect with her community and look forward together while supporting an important cause.

This is the 34^th year of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice, which officially takes place across Ireland on September 24 – but people can host on a date that suits them.

“I was a hands-on carer when my Dad, John, was sick, and I had two small children at the time,” she said.

“The fact that he received hospice care in his last days let me be present for his death.

“Knowing that he was being cared for and would pass in peace, without pain, let me step away from my role as his carer and be present as his daughter.

“I have known a lot of loss – my identical twin sister Annie died at 30 from cancer, and ten days before she passed, my mother Bride died of a broken heart.
 
“My uncle John passed away two years ago from cancer, he would have been very involved in my coffee mornings, as did my sister-in-law Sandra.

“Looking forward is important to me, and having these coffee mornings is incredible, they are so full of life.

“I’ve had coffee mornings where I’ve had multiple people with cancer sitting together in my kitchen, all with different outcomes from death to remission.

“You have to look forward and we always have good craic – I bake up a storm every year and everyone goes home with a full heart and something sweet.

“People might not realise the importance of hospice care – they are professionals who take the pressure off the family and let people move on peacefully, and that is a gift.”

Fintan Fagan, CEO, St Francis Hospice, said: “Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice, one of our longest and most-loved fundraisers, is now in its 34th year raising funds for Hospice in-patient and community services around Ireland.

“No matter where you live in Ireland, we are asking everyone to celebrate our countless coffee morning hosts, who give so selflessly of their time and energy in their local communities.

“This support is invaluable and funds vital services and quality initiatives, greatly improving care for patients with life-limiting illness.”

Register to host a coffee morning on Thursday, September 24 – or on a date that suits you – at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996.

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