LIMERICK woman Dorothy Meaney was awarded National Carer of the Year 2016 at the family Carers Ireland awards ceremony in Dublin this week.
Dorothy Meaney provides full time care to her daughter Zondra (31 years old) who has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which affects all the systems of the body. Zondra’s illness has progressed a lot in the past three years, and Dorothy gave up work to look after her daughter and Zondra’s 9-year-old son (Dorothy’s grandson). One of the most difficult things about Zondra’s disorder is the fact there are no specialists in Ireland who can treat her, and so Dorothy and Zondra travel to the UK every 12 weeks for treatment. Dorothy was also caring for her own mother who sadly passed away and was buried earlier this week, therefore Dorothy was unable to attend the awards ceremony. Laura Fitzgerald (who is a friend of the family) collected Dorothy’s award on her behalf.
For the first time four regional Young Carers of the Year were chosen, Craig McSweeney (16 years old) was awarded Munster Young Carer of the Year, Sean Collins (13 years old) was awarded Ulster/Connaught Young Carer of the Year, Seunfunmi Solanke (17 years old) awarded Leinster Young Carer of the Year and Úna Mc Nicholas (17 years old) awarded Dublin Young Carer of the Year. They were each presented with their awards by broadcasters and patrons of Family Carers Ireland, Mary Kennedy and Marty Whelan.
Family Carers Ireland received a high volume of entries for the awards in 2016, with the figures rising year on year. As with the trend in other years, six out of the twenty-five regional award recipients are male, and this correlates with the census breakdown of carers, showing approximately 25% male and 75% female. Almost one third of award recipients in 2016 are 65 years or older and half of the group have been caring for more than 10 years with some providing care for more than 40 years.
Catherine Cox, Head of Communications at Family Carers Ireland said “We’re delighted that Dorothy was awarded Ireland’s Carer of the Year 2016. Dorothy is a truly remarkable woman who provides so much love and care to her family. Dorothy was nominated by her daughter Zondra, who said that her Mum is admirable, strong, determined and loving, and everything a mother and carer should be.”
“This is the tenth year of the awards and once again we received a huge volume of entries. Throughout the past ten years we have been touched by so many remarkable people and while it is only a small gesture in comparison to the work they do, it gives us great pride to be able to honour carers from across the country.”
Family Carers Ireland is a national voluntary organisation providing a range of vital supports and services to Ireland’s 200,000 family carers.
