Hooves 4 Hospice
Hooves4Hospice – The story so far.
Tullamore Lions Club launched the Hooves4Hospice Fundraising Project in January 2020, just weeks before the outbreak of Covid 19. It was the beginning of our dream to help establish a much needed hospice for the families of the midland region, which is the only region in the country without a hospice.
The project has two clear aims, firstly to raise a substantial amount of money towards the building of a modern hospice for the midland region and secondly to raise public awareness of the urgent need for such a hospice.
The bulk of the funds raised to date is attributable to the generosity of farmers, many of whom donated and reared animals and others who reared animals provided by the project. Their generosity is greatly appreciated by our Lions Club.
In addition to farmers rearing animals, funds were raised by many community groups, primary and secondary schools, a third level college, agribusinesses and many private individuals. Other Lions Clubs, especially Birr, Edenderry and Mullingar Lions Clubs, were particularly supportive.Funds were not only donated by families in the midland region but from virtually every county in Ireland. Local and national media outlets supported our project from day one and this was very beneficial to its overall success. Enormous thanks is due to all of the above without whose support our project would not have been nearly as successful as it has been.
All funds raised throughout the project have been lodged in a dedicated bank account for this project. That account now holds €1.1 million on behalf of the project. All work undertaken on behalf of the project is carried out entirely on a voluntary basis.
In September 2022, An Taoiseach, Michael Martin TD, announced government funding of €20 million towards the construction cost of a 20 beds Midland Regional Hospice in Tullamore. This announcement was widely welcomed and gave increased impetus to the Hooves4Hospice Fundraising Project.
The up to date position is that a suitable site on Arden Lane, on the outskirts of Tullamore, has been chosen on which to build the hospice. It is expected that a planning application will be lodged, by the HSE, with Offaly Co. Council in April 2025.
Longford Farmer Rears Animal for Hooves 4 Hospice Project
Joe Farrell of Pallas, Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford sold an animal for H4H and raised the sum of €1,680.
Athlone Farmer Rears Animal for Hooves 4 Hospice Project
John Dolan of Kilgarvan, Fardrum, Athlone reared an animal for H$H.
In photo – John Dolan with sons Cathal, Shane and granddaughter Ellie. (Picture – Jeff Harvey)
Paul and Anne Daly of Cappincur, Tullamore have donated the magnificent Belgian Blue heifer pictured here to Hooves 4 Hospice.
She is an unusual colour for a Belgium Blue cross and accordingly made a great price of €1,670 at Tullamore Mart on Thursday 23rd September 2021.
The heifer was bred on the farm where Paul Daly’s mother was born, in Nynally, which is now run by Paul’s uncle Vin and cousin Greg Neville. Paul’s late father PJ, was a regular attender at the Thursday sales at Tullamore Mart from the time the Mart opened for the remainder of his life and so the sale of this fine animal and the donation of the proceeds to a cause he would have supported will be a very special event for his extended family.
Family Photo
L to R: Adam Garry, Anne Daly, Rita Daly, Paul Daly, Sam Garry, Greg Neville, Vin Neville, Charlie Daly, Caoimhe Daly, Charlie Tormey.
Sale of Animals at Roscrea Mart for Hooves 4 Hospice
A Simental bullock was sold at the Roscrea Mart to raise funds for the Hooves 4 Hospice Project. The animal, was kindly reared and donated by Mr. Sean Hynes from Irishtown, Coolderry, and fetched the handsome sum of €2,600.
Photo: David Hynes Pat Minnock (Hooves 4 Hospice) and Sean Hynes
For further information and to contact us;
phone: 085 8775 477 (Gerry Fagan office manger )
email: h4h@midlandhospice.ie