Thursday’s Morning Focus came live from O’Gorman’s Cafe at the Clare Hospice at Cahercalla, Ennis
Today marks the 21st Anniversary of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of the Hospice and here at Cahercalla we’re celebrating the event and letting you know about the good work done through hospice care around the county and the region
Throughout the country over 6,000 people use hospice services every year, and here in this county many families receive help and support from the Clare Hospice at Cahercalla at what can be a very difficult time in their lives.
John Cooke was joined by a number of guests in the newly renovated cafe, named after the family who lived at the site for many years
Ennis woman Paula Gleeson has lost a number of relatives in recent years, but spoke of how local hospice services were a real comfort to her family
Mary Moloney, Cahercalla Fundraising Manager and Maureen Hayward, Wards Manager Cahercalla joined John for a word about how things are going in the hospice
mary also spoke about all those pledging their time to raise funds for Cahercalla today.
Moyasta’s Mary Haugh has been a volunteer with Cahercalla for almost 23 years now
He late father was a patient in Cahercalla – he was diagnosed with cancer at 71 and died at the hospice four weeks later
This came suddenly and was an enormous shock for Mary and her family – she said his care and the care given to them was outstanding and this is the reason she has been dedicated to raising funds for Cahercalla ever since.
Kilrush lady Marie O’Leary is organising a Coffee Morning on Saturday in her home between 11-1pm
She is a breast cancer survivor – she got the all clear last year after being diagnosed in June 2011
Marie joined John for a chat about her personal experience and her intention to raise funds for Cahercalla.
The inaugural Loop the Loop Cycle taking place on September 28th in West Clare is raising money for the hospices in the Midwest region
They are also organising a big screen for the replay of the All Ireland Final for the Golf Club in Kilkee.
Kilkee based Noel Gavin – one of the organising team of the Loop the Loop Cycle– joined John for a chat.
Singer, Songwriter and Proud Clare resident Luka Bloom has been touring the county playing gigs in local cafes over the past week or two, and his tour continues in Ennistymon this evening, with gigs in Doolin and Kilkee over the weekend.
He’s also launching a book of songs and photographs entitled Homeplace next week, and was happy to lend his support to the Coffee Morning for the Hospice as he joined John for a chat and few songs.
John then found out how some of the other coffee mornings in different parts of the county we going
He spoke with Rosemary Foudy in Toona who had a full house, and Mary Butler in Kilshanny House.
Thank you to Rice College music teacher Joan Hanrahan and her students who came along to entertain us
Claire Talty (Vocals), Amy McNamara (guitar and harmoney vocals) performed Phil Coulter’s ‘Steal Away’
Sinead Coughlan, Fiona Coughlan, Elaine Brennan and Claire Talty (vocals)
Natasha O’Dwyer (keyboard) performed ‘Amazing Grace’
The final musical piece from Rice College was a trad arrangement performed by Sadhbh O’Brien (fiddle), Natasha O’Dwyer (keyboard), Caoimne Morrissey (Concertina), Anthony Devitt (banjo), Claire Talty (Sean Nos dancing)
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