We were delighted to welcome Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD to our launch event in The TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar on Monday 17th November to announce the plan of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation to develop The Sunflower Children’s Hospice – Ireland’s first children’s hospice outside Dublin. It will serve families across eight counties on Ireland’s Western Seaboard.
Together with fellow politicians, our Board, and leadership of Mayo County Council, there was a moving and collective expression of support and commitment to bring this plan to fruition. The aim is to build on the strengths of all parties and transform the lives of children with life limiting illnesses and their families for generations to come.
As expressed by our CEO, Martina Jennings:
“Our mission has always been to deliver best-in-class palliative care for all ages — creating a legacy of support for generations to come.
We saw the difference our hospices and community teams made for adults and families, and we knew we had to bring that same care to children. Without hesitation, our Board committed in our 2022–2026 strategy to explore a Children’s Hospice for the West of Ireland.”
With an overall project estimated cost of between €12m and €14 million, the Foundation has launched a campaign to raise €7 million over the next year to ensure construction can commence in 2026. The in-patient and respite facility is expected to be completed in approximately two years. A site has already been secured in Castlebar, with the Government and HSE committed to supporting clinical governance.
We know the work ahead is significant – for the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, the Health Service Executive, and the Department of Health – Ireland. The HSE will now begin the challenging process of planning, governance, and staffing so that this hospice can be included in the HSE Service Plan.
In the words of our CEO, Martina Jennings: “Our work isn’t done until every child and family facing a life-limiting illness has equality of care — as close to home as possible.”
Together, we really can do so much.
