People's Stories
Pat Keenan
Carmel and I was married for 43 years. I took her out for the first time on St Patrick’s Day 1977. I proposed to her in May 1977 and we got married on Boxing Day 1977….
Jim Newman
My name is Jim Newman, 76 years of age, born in Dublin, lived most of my life here in Sligo. I’m married to a French lady, Josette. We have two children….
John's Story
In September 2005, my late father, Michael Mitchell, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of prostate cancer. He commenced intensive radiotherapy treatment in October 2005, which continued for approximately three months……
Bernadette’s Story
As I stood in my living room staring out the window, the dark, dismal, rainy morning reflected every bit of what I was feeling inside. Outside the world continued on, people going to work, children going to school, the postman delivering letters….
Robert's Story
When Robert Ferguson’s wife Olive was diagnosed with dementia, he became her full-time carer. It was a role he took on willingly and proudly. Because Robert had been devoted to Olive since the day they first met, over 60 years ago…..
Áine's Story
I wanted to see my father. He was in the living room. He had died in his comfortable chair, with his feet up on footstool, a glass of whiskey at one hand, and the ashtray in the other. I am glad I saw him as he was, because it made me truly see that my father was gone….
Paddy's Story
Marie and I have been married for 35 years when her health began to fail. Many visits to hospitals and to various consultants brought little improvement and I finally brought her to casualty on December 28th. Marie was admitted and stabilised overnight….
Anne's Story
My father was born on a farm in Leitrim in 1935. He died in Cork City in 2011. The world he was born in was very different to the one he died in. He was very much a man of his time. He liked going for walks, pottering about, and being busy fixing things….
June's Story
Fighting for loving care for the people we love…. When we can no longer care for our loved ones at home we must place their care in the hands of others. There is no greater act of trust. When that care is loving and tender, it can enhance life.…
Elaine's Story
Elaine Leavey lost her father to cancer. The Leavey family used the Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nursing Service which provides nursing care to patients who are at the end of their cancer journey in their own homes.…
Carmel’s Story
Angela trained as a confectioner and came to work in Oughterard, Co Galway in the early 1950’s. One day my Dad spotted her standing at the bus stop and followed her to Galway. He used to tell us ‘she was the finest woman I had ever seen’.…
Antoinette's Story
Padraig Geoghegan was an amazing character bursting with life and full of contradictions. He was the light in the room but he loved his privacy. He was a fitter-welder but was really well read.…
Caroline Shore's Story
My dad was diagnosed with cancer when he was 54 and he passed away when he was 57. It was nine o’clock at night and the consultant and the nurse came into the room….
Karen Lavery
My name is Karen Lavery, and I live in the North in Co. Armagh in a place called Aghalee. My uncle Seán was a seaman for many years, and he left home when he was 16…..
Marian Mawhinney
Hi, my name is Marian Mawhinney, I’m from West Belfast. I grew up on the Falls Road with my brothers and sisters. My Mum was the best person absolutely ever….
Donal, Billy, Kevin and Denis – their stories
I think when people hear the words palliative care they automatically associate it with the end of life, and actually what palliative care….
Carmel Ryan's Story
Well my name is Carmel and my husband Eamon died Christmas of 2015. He had had an underlying blood disorder and it eventually changed….
Gerard and Joanna O’Hare’s story
My name is Gerard O’Hare, I’m 52 years of age and I suffer from Motor Neurone Disease. It was a hard time adjusting. It took a wee while for me to get my head around it….
