Sod Turned On €6.2m New In-Patient Palliative Care Unit

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Chairperson of Kerry Hospice Foundation, Ted Moynihan, turns the sod at the new in-patient palliative care unit at Kerry General Hospital. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.

IT was a joyous afternoon at Kerry General Hospital as chairperson of the Kerry Hospice Foundation, Ted Moynihan, turned the sod on the planned new in-patient palliative care unit.

Work can now begin on the €6.2m project which will have 15 in patient beds en-suite rooms. The turning of the sod also marks 25 years of the Kerry Hospice Foundation, where in that time they raised €12m for cancer patients in the county.

Minister Jimmy Deenihan praised the work done by the Kerry Hospice Foundation, which is an entirely voluntary organisation who raised funds for the new unit with the help of charity initiatives.

“This is a really special day for Ted Moynihan and all the people who fund raised with him for the last 25 years,” said Minister Deenihan.

“It’s a great day for Kerry, this was done with Kerry money, being built by Kerry builders and Kerry architects and no doubt Kerry craftspeople working on site as well,” he said.

Ted Moynihan, thanked the people of Kerry for their ongoing support and generosity, “Without them it wouldn’t be possible,” he said, leaving with this thought; “I hope that any of you won’t need the hospice, but the hospice will always need you.”

Scroll down for photos…

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At the turning of the sod at the in-patient palliative care unit were, from left: Nuala Finnegan, Ursula O’Connell, Marie Claire Stacey, Denis Mannix and Ted Moynihan. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.

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At the turning of the sod at the in-patient palliative care unit were, from left: David Buckley, Treasa O’Donovan, Monica Sheehan, Christy O’Connell and Mayor of Tralee Tom McEllistrim. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.

At the turning of the sod at the in-patient palliative care unit were, from left: Andrea O’Donoghue, Aileen Diggins, Linda McMahon, Mary Nolan, Carina Kelliher, Aine Moriarty and Mary Quinlivan. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.