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SOSP Awards 2016

Award2The Spirit of St Patrick Award is a community award scheme that recognises and honours those who have offered significant and ongoing contribution to their local community. Awarded on the basis of community nominations, the Spirit of Saint Patrick Award trophies were created by Mullingar Pewter and consist of beautifully detailed statues of St Patrick mounted on a carved Walnut base.

We are delighted to announce that this year’s winners are the Foyle Hospice (Derry/Londonderry) and Maynooth Local History Group (Maynooth).

The Foyle Hospice

For over 30 years now, the Foyle Hospice has been providing palliative care services for patients with cancer and other life limiting illnesses in the North West. Almost 500 people, and their families, are supported each year through its in-patient services, day hospice and community team as well as through its adult and child bereavement support. Flowing from the vision of local GP Dr Tom McGinley, a small steering committee was set up in early 1984 with the first Homecare team being established in 1985 with the appoCityHotelBreakfast2016_28intment of 2 specialist palliative homecare nurses. The first 12 bed In-Patient Unit opened on 21st June 1991 and the Day Care Centre followed in 2001. It is thus 25 years since the opening of the original In-Patient Unit

The hospice’s annual budget is approximately £2.8 million and almost 70% of this figure comes from individuals, businesses and support groups. Foyle-Hospice16Complemented in its work by more than 350 volunteers from the community,  the staff of the hospice ensure that every patient and their family receive exemplary, and entirely free, palliative care. We are delighted that our inaugural Spirit of Saint Patrick Award in Derry/Londonderry has been awarded to such a worthy institution. Many congratulations to all its staff and supporters.

Maynooth Local History Group

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Peter Nevin & Hilda Dunne receiving the 2016 Maynooth SOSP Award

The Maynooth Local History Group was founded in 1986 and is part of the County Kildare Federation of Local History Groups. Under the chairmanship of Peter Nevin, it organises talks, lectures and exhibitions about various aspects of history here in Maynooth and in the wider hinterland of the town.  Over the years it has covered a wide variety of archeological and social aspects of our local history. In doing so, it has enabled a very fruitful link between the academic expertise of the Maynooth University Campus, and that of other historians, and the residents of Maynooth who wish to understand more about our town’s past. We are glad to acknowledge the contribution our Local History Group has made over 30 years and offer our warmest congratulations as they receive this year’s award.