Moate Community School staff member receives hospice honour

Moate Community School staff member, Sinéad Neilan, has been honoured with a national award for her tireless efforts supporting her local Hospice.

Sinéad, the school's wellbeing co-ordinator, along with her colleagues and students, has been a rock of support to South Westmeath Hospice for over two decades.

She was a recent recipient of a 'Together for Hospice National Super Host Award, recognising her outstanding contribution to Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice.

The 34th year of the national fundraiser officially takes place across Ireland on September 24, with the 900-pupil Moate Community School set to host its annual event in late September or early October.

“I was really emotional after I received news of the award. Life is so busy that we often don’t get to reflect on a lot of the good things we might do.

“This has pushed me to reflect on how worthwhile our work is and how worthwhile out time and efforts can be.

“I don’t see this as a personal award, it is for our school and all the fundraising efforts we organise, I am so thrilled for the whole school community to get this little bit of recognition," Sinéad, who lives on the Roscommon side of Athlone town, said.

Sinéad also co-ordinates the care team at Moate Community School, which prides itself on charity work and in particular, its deep connection with South Westmeath Hospice.

Fundraising events, she says, could not get off the ground without its management and support.

The team also has a dedicated health focus, meaning that when Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice comes around annually, staff see it as a wonderful treat.

“We are a healthy staff room, from Monday to Friday, we don’t do treats and we’re not surrounded by a multitude of coffee shops here either.

“So this is a massive treat to have good coffee, everyone bakes something and the staff really look forward to it in advance.

“We have Gráinne Dunican at the Hospice and she is fantastic, she makes my life so much easier at this time of year by bringing posters, coffee, and arrives to the school with everything," Sinéad added.

Students, too, embrace non-uniform days to raise extra cash for various charities, including South Westmeath Hospice.

For many of those involved, the hospice is not merely a worthy charity partner, but also carries a personal and emotional connection.

“An aunt of mine suffered with lung cancer not long after I started in Moate Community School and was cared for there before she passed away.

“Every year, some of our staff members have close family members who are receiving hospice care," Sinéad continued.

Clare Lennon, Chairperson of South Westmeath Hospice, has called on local communities to support Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice.

“No matter where you live in Westmeath, 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," Clare said.

Register to host a coffee morning on Thursday, September 24, or on a date that suits you, at hospicecoffeemorning.ie.

If you cannot host or attend a coffee morning, you can donate at hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate