.At the unveiling of photos to hang in the Palliative Care Unit were, back from left; Michael ‘Fox’ O’Connor, Patsy Power, Laura Collins, Marie OConnell, Mary Shanahan and Joe Hennebery. In front; Breda and Simon Moynihan. Photo by Dermot Crean
A COLLAGE of photos will hang just inside the door of the new Palliative Care Unit to remember the man who did so much to make the facility possible.
Ted Moynihan passed away in February of 2018, but he lived to see the Palliative Care Unit officially opened in September of 2017 and photos were taken by Domnick Walsh to capture the historic day.
Before he passed away, Ted sat down with Kerry Hospice committee members to select Domnick’s photos from the opening to hang on the walls inside the main door.
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“When we built the day unit we did the same thing with photos from the signing of the contracts right up to the opening [in 2007] hanging inside the door,” said Dr Patricia Sheahan. It was decided to do the same thing for the new unit.
“It brings back memories of a very happy day. A lot of people join and leave charities, but Ted was ‘Mr Hospice’. He was the one who was the inspiration to bring everyone together to keep the the whole county focussed towards that one goal,” said Dr Sheahan.
Ted Moynihan’s wife Breda and son Simon with the photos. Photo by Dermot Crean
Ted’s wife Breda and son Simon were there to see the photos being hung.
“I’m proud that Ted is being honoured in this way. He did so much and the Kerry Hospice was primary to him over the years,” said Breda.
.Mary Shanahan (left) accepts the proceeds of a fundraiser by Bláthnaid Buckley, the granddaughter of the late Ted Moynihan who was the driving force behind Kerry Hospice for so many years. Photo by Dermot Crean
TED Moynihan would have been so proud.
The granddaughter of the man who did so much to bring the palliative care unit at UHK to fruition was at the unit on Saturday to present the proceeds of a fundraiser to Kerry Hospice.
Bláthnaid Buckley from Killorglin ran the Women’s Mini-Marathon recently in memory of her late grandfather who passed away in February.
She was sponsored by friends, family and work colleagues in Tallaght Hospital where Bláthnaid works as a speech and language therapist. So it seems her grandfather’s work influenced her to do the run for the charity.
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“Absolutely, yeah. It was a great day and it was nice to do it since grandad passed away at the start of the year. It’s something I want to keep up now as it’s important to give something back. As granddad used to say, ‘the end of life deserves as much respect as the beginning’,” she said.
Mary Shanahan of Kerry Hospice was delighted with Bláthnaid’s efforts.
“It was a lovely thing to do in memory of Ted who spearheaded the campaign for the inpatient unit and it wouldn’t be here only for him and the good people of Kerry,” said Mary.
.Ted Moynihan at the turning of the sod on the new palliative care unit at UHK back in November 2016.
THERE was great sadness in Tralee and around the county with the news that Ted Moynihan had passed away early on Thursday morning.
He died in the new Palliative Care In Patient Unit at University Hospital Kerry, the facility he had been instrumental in building through his fundraising efforts over the years.
The Mayor of Tralee, Norma Foley, paid tribute to Ted saying he was an “absolute gentleman” and “our community is a better and more caring place because of the impact that Ted has had.”
The Kerry Hospice Foundation has also released a statement on his passing which can be read in full at the end of this story below.
Ted was the driving force behind the Kerry Hospice Foundation for the past 28 years. Through his fund raising efforts, a Palliative Care Facility was opened in 2007 and he was tireless in his efforts to get the new palliative care in-patient unit in the Day Care Centre in Tralee opened last year.
At that official opening, Ted told the assembled guests; “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.”
On hearing of his passing, Mayor of Tralee, Norma Foley said; “He is a huge loss. Ted was an absolute gentleman and in everything he touched he brought that gentlemanly manner.
“He had a huge capacity for hard work and generosity. He was motivated by being helpful to the other. He put the community first and we would not have the facilities we have today in terms of Hospice care at University Hospital Kerry without him.
“It was his vision and his work ethic which gave him the ability to reach out to the community and invite them to share in his dream. Our community is a better and more caring place because of the impact that Ted has had.”
We will miss him greatly but his legacy speaks for itself and will continue to be a living memory of Ted. To his family and huge number of friends, I extend my sympathies,” she said.
Ted is survived by wife Breda and sons Simon and Teddy, his grandchildren, sisters Noreen & Joan, daughter-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many, many friends.
Reposing at The Gleasure Funeral Home, Tralee on Friday from 7.30pm to 9.30 pm with removal to St. John’s Church. Requiem Mass on Saturday at 12 noon.
Interment afterwards in Rath Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers, if desired, to Kerry Hospice Foundation, U.H.K., or care of The Gleasure Funeral Home.
A statement from the Kerry Hospice Foundation reads;
It is with a deep sense of heartfelt sadness that the Kerry Hospice Foundation announces the passing of our founder member and chairman Ted Moynihan, the 2017 Kerry Person of the Year. Ted passed away on Thursday morning in the tender care of staff at the new Palliative Care In Patient Unit at University Hospital Kerry in the presence of his heartbroken, loving and deeply caring family.
Despite being diagnosed with cancer in 1983 and again in 2015, Ted Moynihan from Marian Park, Tralee had been the motivation behind the formation of the Kerry Hospice Foundation. Ted also co –ordinated the establishment of more than 20 branches of the Kerry Hospice Foundation, 18 branches are still in existence today.
Born in Blennerville, Ted was employed initially at the Tralee Boot Factory for nine years before the factory was gutted by fire in 1959. He subsequently took up employment during the construction of the Castelrosse Hotel in Killarney and also worked as a bus conductor with CIE from 1960 to 1963. He later worked as a driver for Kerry Petroleum servicing the South Kerry route. From 1982 to 1987, he worked with Jason Products in Tralee and was employed with the US textile company, Klopman in Tralee from 1987 to 1997.
Ted was a dedicated and loyal member of the FCA for more than 43 years reaching the rank of Sergeant Major.
He married Breda Foley from Marian Park, Tralee in 1964 and the couple have two sons, Teddy and Simon and four beautiful grandchildren Chloe, Jade, Simon and Blathnaid.
In February 1990, a conference held in Ballymullen Army Barracks in Tralee announced that the 15th Battalion of the F.C.A. was to undertake a 150 mile sponsored walk, that included the Ring of Kerry, with the proceeds going to Baile Mhuire Tralee and the Kerry Cancer Support Group.
This prompted Ted to establish a Hospice movement in Kerry, along with Dr. Tom McCormack F.R.C.S.I. at Tralee General Hospital.
Ted was deeply honoured and privileged to have been the Chairman of the Tralee Branch of Kerry Hospice for the past 28 years. He also served as the Kerry Hospice Foundation chairman for 25 years. Thanks to the motivation, leadership and tireless work of Ted Moynihan, the hospice volunteers have raised more than €11 million in 25 years. The Kerry Hospice Foundation works in close collaboration with the HSE South to develop the Palliative Care Services in Kerry. It first started with the Community Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialists team (known then as the Home Care team) 25 years ago, providing hospice beds in Community Hospitals, the Palliative Day Care Unit in 2007 and now the state of the art 15 bed In Patient Unit that opened in December 2017 .
The capital cost of the development of the In Patient Unit, €6.2 million, was fully funded by Kerry Hospice with a commitment for significant financial support from the Kerry Hospice Foundation amounting to €400,000 per year for a period of 5 years towards the on going operational costs of the Unit.
Ted Moynihan has been heavily involved in the annual Hospice Coffee Morning and Sunflower Day for the past twenty years. He organised the first Good Friday Hospice Walk in 1998 and this is now one of the largest events of its kind in Kerry.
Among the many accolades bestowed to this proud Blennerville man was the 2010 All Ireland Volunteer Award, a Civic Reception from Tralee Town Council and he was Grand Marshall of the Tralee St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2011. He was also accorded a civic reception from the members of the Tralee Municipal District on the 9th of May 2016.
A dedicated community volunteer, Ted has been involved in all aspects of community life. He was actively involved in the Tralee Footwear and F.C.A. Basketball teams in the 1950’s, Kerins O’Rahillys GAA Club, Tralee Light Opera Society in the late 1950’s and stage manager for ‘Showboat’ which starred the late Jack Cruise.
He was Chairman of Marian Park Residents Association in late 1960’s and also chairman of Marian Park Community Games. In1970’s, he was involved with Pro Celtic Basketball Club and served as secretary of the Kerry County Basketball Board and president of the Munster Basketball Board from 1978 to 1979. Ted was a founding member of Tralee Bay Sea Angling Club.
The Kerry Hospice Foundation is a team of ordinary people doing extraordinary work inspired by a true gentleman and leader in Ted Moynihan. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his loving wife Breda, who loaned Ted to the Kerry Hospice Foundation for 28 years, his sons Teddy and Simon, his four wonderful grandchildren Chloe, Jade, Simon and Blathnaid and extended family.
.Ted and Breda Moynihan and Family and the Committee of the Kerry Association in Dublin.
OVER 200 people in Ballsbridge Hotel gave a standing ovation to Ted Moynihan as he entered the ballroom on the arm of the Cathaoirleach of the Kerry Association in Dublin, Leesha Duffy on Saturday.
Ted was with his family in Dublin to accept the Kerry Person Of The Year 2017. The award was in recognition of having spent the past 27 years of tireless service, fundraising for the Kerry Hospice Foundation – an effort which has culminated in over €11.5m being raised to date.
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In making the presentation to Ted of a most beautiful painting of his local area, Blennerville, entitled – “The Windmill” – Leesha Duffy said that the Kerry Hospice Foundation, through Ted’s dedicated fundraising efforts, has afforded patients treatment, support and access to services both medical and non-medical and above all it provides dignity and solace to patients and their families dealing with cancer. Ted Moynihan has proved that “the power of one” still exists in Kerry.
On receiving the accolade, Ted thanked the Kerry Association in Dublin saying that he accepted the award on behalf of all those who have been involved with KHF since its inauguration.
A large contingent of his family and friends were on hand to offer their congratulations and to wish him well in his future fundraising efforts.
The Chairperson made another presentation on the evening – Laochra Chiarraí – this award went to Forbairt na Dromoda.
This Community group in Dromid Parish provides a very wide range of services and due to an enormous amount of voluntary work it has become a shining example of what can be achieved with local support.
The Chairperson thanked Frank Hayes of the Kerry Group who has been such a generous sponsor to the Association over the years.
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Michael O’Regan, did a splendid job keeping the show free flowing and there certainly was no shortage of banter, ceól, ól agus craic.
The melodious tones of the Jason Fallon band ensured that the Ballsbridge Ballroom resembled the set of “Dancing with the Stars” – whilst the singers in the audience came under the tried and tested batons of Marion Walsh and Christy McCarthy.
Bidding was strong in an auction which included a painting by Sean Horan, holiday prizes, golf vouchers as well as signed Kerry jerseys – with Mary Donohue bringing her auctioneering skills to bear. The proceeds of the auction and the raffle went to Ted for the KHF.
Representatives of Forbairt na Dromada Teo and the Committee of the Kerry Association in Dublin
.Ted Moynihan at the turning of the sod on the new palliative care unit back in November 2015.
TED Moynihan been named Kerry Person of the Year by the Kerry Association in Dublin tonight.
The Kerry Hospice Foundation chairman Ted Moynihan will be presented with the award at a gala ceremony at the Association’s annual Oiche Chiarrai which will be held at the Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin on Saturday, March 4.
Mr. Ted Moynihan is a tireless fundraiser and campaigner on behalf of the Kerry Hospice Foundation which funds a wide range of palliative care services to patients in Kerry, dealing with serious illness.
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The announcements were made at a reception in Iveagh House, Department of Foreign Affairs, St. Stephen’s Green, on Thursday by Leesha Duffy, Cathaoirleach of the Kerry Association in Dublin.
Many well-known personalities were among the 100 or so who attended the function. The Kerry Person of the Year Award, now in its 38th year, is being presented to people who are making a significant contribution to their locality and Kerry as a whole, or whose achievements have reflected credit on the county.
Mr. Moynihan, a native of Blennerville, was instrumental in organising the first ever fund-raiser for the Kerry Hospice with a 150 mile walk along the Kerry way on the Iveragh Peninsula in 1990.
Through Mr. Moynihan’s fund raising efforts, a Palliative Care Facility was opened in 2007 and recently in 2016, the sod has been turned on a new palliative care in-patient unit in the Day Care Centre in Tralee which will consist of 15 beds, costing €6.2 million.
During her tribute to Ted Moynihan, the Cathaoirleach said “this award is presented in recognition of the contribution he has made to the Kerry Hospice Foundation over the past 26 years. In the Immortal words of the late President Kennedy “Ask not what your country can do for you, rather what you can do for your country””.
Previous recipients of the Kerry Person of the Year Award
2016 – Brian McCarthy
2015 – Danny Tim O’Sullivan
2014 – Archdeacon Michael Murphy
2013 – Luke Moriarty
2012 – Jimmy Deenihan
2011 – Crohan O’Shea
2010 – Dáithí Ó Sé
2009 – Margaret Culloty
2008 – Sean Kelly
2007 – Tadhg O’Donoghue
2006 – Jeremiah O’Donoghue
2005 – Jack O’Connor
2004 – Denis Geaney
2003 – Mick Galwey
2002 – Brian O’Mahony
2001 – Páidí Ó Sé
2000 – Dick Spring
1998 – Mick O’Connell
1997 – Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh
1996 – Sr. Consilio
1995 – Ned O’Shea
1994 – Paddy Culligan
1993 – John Curran
1992 – Fr. Pat Ahern
1991 – Brendan Kennelly
1990 – Dr. Paddy Moriarty (RIP)
1989 – John B. Keane (RIP)
1988 – Dr. Denis Brosnan
1987 – Dr. Bryan McMahon (RIP)
1986 – Mick O’Dwyer
1985 – Con Houlihan
1984 – Pat Spillane
1983 – Eamonn Kelly (RIP)
1982 – Pat O’Connell
1981 – Pat Roche (RIP)
1980 – Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy
1979 – Dr. Michael Carmody
