Dún Laoghaire to turn blue for Carers’ Week

DÚN Laoghaire is to light up blue to support people with brain injury during National Carers’ Week, which runs from June 12-18.

Locally based Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABI Ireland) is one of 11 national partner organisations supporting the campaign.

To mark the week, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council will ‘light up blue’ the County Hall building on Marine Road.

Cathaoirleach Cormac Devlin joined with ABI Ireland, people who live with brain injury and family carers to launch the initiative.

From June 12-18, events will take place nationwide to celebrate and recognise the contribution of Ireland’s 360,000 family carers.

 ABI Ireland is hosting a Carers’ Walk from Dún Laoghaire town to the East Pier on Tuesday, June 13, at 11.30am. 

 ABI Ireland CEO, Barbara O’Connell, is inviting families and supporters to join them on the walk.

 “National Carers’ Week is a great opportunity to raise awareness and recognise the huge contribution carers make to all of our lives,” she said. “As the colour scheme for National Carers’ Week is blue, we invite anybody taking part to wear blue.”

 She added: “If other organisations want to organise walks, then multiple events could happen simultaneously at 11.30am on June 13 across Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County, which would clearly demonstrate our gratitude to and celebration of family carers.”

To take part in ABI Ireland’s walk, host your own walk, or receive National Carers’ Week merchandise, contact ABI Ireland’s Layla Moroney at [email protected] or 086 410 3681.

Also, on Thursday, June 15, a coffee morning will take place at Southside Women’s Action Network (SWAN) in Loughlinstown. 

ABI Ireland will be launching a new national research report during the week on the experiences of people and their families of living with a brain injury – and how services can be improved.

More information is available by visiting  www.carersweek.ie, Facebook: www.facebook.com/nationalcarersweek or Twitter @careallianceirl using  #carersweek

 To find out more or to support ABI Ireland’s work with people with acquired brain injury and their carers, go to www.abiireland.ie.

Together with ABI Ireland, there are 11 national organisations taking part in the week, including Family Carers Ireland, Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Irish Cancer Society, Disability Federation of Ireland, MS Ireland, Inclusion Ireland, Irish Hospice Foundation, St Michael’s House, Special Needs Parents’ Association and Care Alliance Ireland.