Birr woman honoured for Offaly Hospice fundraising

An Offaly woman has been honoured with a national award for her tireless efforts supporting her local Hospice.

Siobhán Smyth Dwyer from Birr was a recent recipient of a Together for Hospice National Super Host Award, recognising her “massive fundraising support to Offaly Hospice Foundation”.

The presentation took place at a special ceremony in St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown, Dublin.

She has been hosting coffee mornings for 13 years since the death of one of her closest friends, Sarah Barry Turley.

Along with group of lifelong close friends, Siobhán is now urging people in Offaly to attend or host at Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice on September 24 – or on a date that suits them.

Over the years, five other friends have rallied around to remember Sarah, who died of a brain tumour, and to raise money for Offaly Hospice through an annual coffee morning.

“I was very close with Sarah – our mums were actually close friends before us and then we followed suit,” said Siobhán.

“We lived together in Dublin for a couple of years and our husbands were good friends, too.

“At first, it was just me behind the coffee morning, and I did it on a very small scale for her – she was still alive at the time.”

She continued with the tradition after Sarah’s death and the event grew every year.

“Others joined over the years and now there are six of us involved - nearly all of us went to school together in Birr.

“People often praise us for hosting such a big event but really, it’s such a simple thing – a few hours work – for money that going to such a super cause. Why wouldn’t you do it?”

The group, which raised €8,000 last year, is set to host its coffee morning for hospice in the greenhouse of Woodfield coffee shop and garden in Birr on October 3.

“It’s a well-oiled operation at this stage, it nearly runs itself, and people have come to expect it every year. I think they’d be put out if we didn’t host one.

“It started out for Sarah but it’s really a community thing now because every year someone new is affected by it.

“It is a lovely thing we can do as a friendship group – so many people are connected by hospice in every village, town and city.”

Siobhan said that hosting coffee mornings made her realise that people don’t always understand that funds raised locally, stay in the local area.

“The coffee morning goes towards the wages of local hospice nurses who do amazing work,” said Siobhán.

“We try to advertise that the money we raise on the day goes directly back into the Offaly Hospice Foundation.”

Prof Humphrey O’Connor, Chairperson of Offaly Hospice Foundation, 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, donate at: hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate