Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
TWENTY ONE FAMILY carers from across Ireland were presenting with special awards today at The Carers Association annual awards ceremony.
Scooping the Young Carer of the Year award was 17-year-old Jamie Mooney from Shankill in Co Dublin who has provided care for his mother Sabrina Mooney since he was a small child. The 35-year-old was diagnosed with Meningitis at 19 and suffered a stroke.
Shortly after Jamie was born she was diagnosed with Epilepsy and he has often called ambulances for her and talked medical personnel through her condition while she was having seizures, which could be a couple of times a week.
After his eight-year-old sister Lexie was born, he helped care for her too while his dad, a chef, was at work.
Earlier this year, Jamie himself was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy which is due to finish the week before Christmas. Despite everything, the 17-year-old remains positive and always checks his mother is doing alright. Following in his dad’s footsteps, Jamie has just finished work experience at Chapter One which he really enjoyed.
The Carer of the Year award went to 69-year-old Madeleine Morrissey from Kiltealy in Co Wexford who provides full time care for her three adult children Jay (40) Pat (38) and Sheila (36) who have intellectual disabilities.
Jay has epilepsy and can have seizures at any time. Pat has eczema which means he needs to be bathed regularly with special cream applied every day. Their mother also cares for her 93-year-old mother-in-law, lighting fires, cooking for her and providing anything she needs.
According to a study conducted at Trinity College Dublin, one third of Irish women aged 50 – 69, just like Morrissey, provide care for both older parents and dependent children. After 30 years in the disability system it is only in recent years that Madeleine and her husband, Patsy, have gotten some respite care for Jay, Pat and Sheila. This typically equates to two to three weeks each year. Madeleine won’t go away for a weekend as she is afraid something will happen and wants to be close by.
“While caring is often a very challenging role, family carers provide care with love and find it a very rewarding experience,” commented Catherine Cox, Head of Communications for the association said at the awards. “We want to celebrate the enormous contribution and loving care provided by our family carers with these awards.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
That’ll be the fishermen .As a regular salmon angler on the Moy the vast majority of fishermen I meet on the waters are German.They love out salmon waters especially the moy and the erriff back at the beautiful Leenane!
Used Knock for the first time last month – €10 ‘development fee’ before you can depart via the airport. Do the math – nice tidy sum they rake in!!!
Yeah its time to bin that scam if numbers are so impressive.
At least you can see where they spent it. Knock airport was some hole not too long ago.
@ Rodger, it costs me a lot more than €10 in fuel and time to drive to Dublin Airport, a scam is something underhand, the fee is clear to anyone flying and well worth it for sheer convenience.
Taxes at Dublin airport are a lot more than any other airport in Ireland
The other airports have similar fees, the only difference being that they hidden in the airline’s taxes and charges.
But you get to see the other airport charges at booking stage when deciding whether to book or not.
In Knocks case it’s not as clear for 1st time passengers, especially families who are trying to vacation on a budget and they only find out about the €50 charge when thru arrive at the airport!
I remember Father Horan’s miracle,an airport built right on top of a windswept bog,even though he had no money he went ahead and built it anyway,even now he must be directing the tourist traffic from heaven, a truly inspirational story.
richard:
I rember some of the kafuffle around the Airport & Father Horan,
when you think how bad the Irish economy was then , he had some liathroidi.
He should be an example to us in the current recession, he did not ask the gov’t to help him he helped his own community despite the gov’t
In the words of Christy Moore …. Did NATO donate the Dome ?
Longest runway in the country when it was built ….
Knock airport is great, nice and quick in and out, especially with 3 kids, not much walking, got bags fairly sharpish. €10 doesn’t bother me at all, great service and with a smile. Also I find pricing flights cheaper in Knock by up to 50% to the sunnier destinations :)
That’s the lads working on our gas line that we gave away thanks to Bertie and Ray
In the words of Miley – well holy god.
Knock Airport is of huge benefit. Convenient, cheap parking, friendly staff etc.
As for the €10 Development Fund
WELL WORTH IT
Great to see Knock going from strength to strength.. the €10 charge is put directly towards new development at the airport which we have seen over the past few years with more to come in the near future..
I used Knock twice in last 2 years – hate the 10.00 charge and you have no choice but to pay it. Both times the landings were terrifying the airport is do exposed and windswept – even the people sitting beside me said its always like that – scary
I can’t belive there has not been a negative comment yet about the Church’s involvment in the setting up of this airport. Surlely we can find some blame here.
Germans taking over, through the back door and god by their side?
Knock knock, who’s there? The Germans.
SPYS!!
Oh hang on, they already know what’s happening.
INFORMERS???
I didn’t think the germans were known for superstitious beliefs.
They must be taking a shortcut to end as gaff
have your say