28 March 2024
Blessing of the Healing Garden


Blessing of the Healing Garden at Tullamore Hospital

On Friday, 11th September 2009, the Friends of the Regional Hospital in Tullamore, presented a cheque for € 127,000 to the Health Service executive. This fulfilled the Friends of the hospital commitment to fund 10% for the capital cost of the Hydrotherapy pool when it was first costed 10 years ago. The cheque was accepted on behalf of the HSE by Ms Claire Donnelly, Physiotherapy Manger.

The second event on the evening was the formal opening of the healing garden by Sister Damien of the Mercy Sisters in Tullamore. Sr Damien and the Order have been great benefactors of the friends for over 25 years.

The Blessing Ceremony was carried out by Clergy from the four Christian Churches, led by the Catholic Chaplain to the Hospital Rev Fr Seamus O’Connor. Mr Osama, a Surgeon at the Hospital, represented the Muslin community from the area and spoke of the need for healing.

The Friends of the Hospital have been supplying comforts and aids to care at the Hospital for over 25 years, starting in the early 1980’s by donating high dependency variable height beds for the Intensive Care Unit, and as time and needs moved on relatives rooms were furnished and departments equipped, including, a then, state of the art endoscopy unit and CAT Scanner which served the hole of the then Midland Health Board area.

The funds raised have come from the many events organised by the Hospital Staff and organisations as diverse as the Lions Club, An Dubh RI, a Bikers Club and not forgetting the staff’s constant support for the 300 Club which was set up in 1983 by Ms Mary McGill, Assistant Matron at the Hospital and which is still going strong.

What next?
We are open to suggestions that will give comfort and make care giving more effective and efficient. Contact us with suggestions for us to consider. Then we shall be looking for the usual outstanding support we have always received from the people of Offaly, who so appreciate the facilities available to them and the care that is given so unstintingly.

Articel by Mr Roy Lane