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Ted Moynihan and friends at the official opening of the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
“Hospice matters. The end of life deserves as much duty, care and respect as the beginning. I hope that any of you will never need the Hospice, but the Hospice will always need you.”
TED Moynihan’s words addressing those gathered as the new €6.5m 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry was opened on Friday afternoon.
There was a huge crowd present including many great volunteers who have given so much of their time down the years to ensure this day would come. Special guests included Duagh native Katie Hannon of RTE and Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne who blessed the building.
The Kerry Hospice journey started in 1990 with a group of people walking 25 miles a day for six days on the Kerry Way back in 1990, to raise funds for the new Foundation.
On that fundraiser, Ted Moynihan and friends called to “nearly every house in south Kerry” looking for funds for the Kerry Hospice and they raised an incredible £25,000.
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The seeds were sown for a remarkable fundraising organisation which has raised €11.5m since then and helped provide comfort to hundreds of families over the past three decades.
Now here we are, at the opening of a new facility and the man who was instrumental in making it happen is addressing guests at its official opening.
Ted Moynihan with son Ted and grandchildren Jade Moynihan, Blathnaid Buckley, Simon Moynihan and Chloe Moynihan at the official opening of the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
It’s been quite a journey and in his speech, Ted Moynihan paid tribute to all who helped along the way, some of whom are no longer with us.
Ted paid particular tribute to the people of Kerry. “They’re the people who put this together, not us, not me, it’s the people of Kerry who put up the money for this,” he said.
Ted also gave special mention to the Ring Of Kerry Cycle which raised €424,000 for the Hospice over two years and his family who supported him over the years.
He said the people of Kerry will always be indebted to Dr Tom McCormack and Owen Sullivan who came up with the idea of the Hospice many years ago.
A commitment to raise €400,000 per year for the next five years, in addition to €100,000 operating costs, has also been undertaken by the foundation, so the work goes on in earnest.
The people of Kerry are up to it. Sadly, they know it will touch their lives in some way or other in the future. Scroll down for photos…
Ted Moynihan officially opens the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Siobhan Keane, Brid O’Connor, Caroline O’Connor, Joanne Crowley, Brid Lynch, Lix McCarthy and Aine Moriarty at the official opening of the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
Neasa O’Mahony, Linda McMahon, Geraldine Ashe and Aileen Cotter Diggins at the official opening of the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Garry Dillon, Pat Carmody and Dr David Buckley at the official opening of the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
Maureen O’Brien, Anne Kelliher, Rose McElligott and Margaret Griffin at the official opening of the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Helen and Noel Brosnan, Pat Doolan, Aidan O’Mahony and Denis O’Shea at the official opening of the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
Special guest speaker and patron, RTE Journalist, Katie Hannon, with Margaret Fletcher, Anna Walsh and Alice Sheehan at the official opening of the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
Breda Moynihan (left) with husband Ted, receives a bouquet of flowers from Maura Sullivan at the official opening of the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
Bishop Ray Browne at the official opening of the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
Musicians playing at the official opening of the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
A contingent from Offaly Hospice Foundation Edward Delahunt, Mary Murphy and Professor Humphrey O’Connor at the official opening of the new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry on Friday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
The new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry. Photo by Dermot Crean
The new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry. Photo by Dermot Crean
The new 15-bed specialist palliative in-patient unit at University Hospital Kerry. Photo by Dermot Crean
