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North West Hospice Memorial Walk, held on Sunday 19th April, brought the community together in a heartfelt show of support. Participants enjoyed a meaningful and uplifting day, sharing memories and companionship. The positive atmosphere and strong turnout made the event a memorable occasion for all who attended!

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The conference featured contributions from national and international leaders in palliative care, with sessions on the implementation of Ireland’s National Palliative Care Policy, innovative models such as the Virtual Palliative Care Ward, the role of community paramedics, and the importance of communication, compassion, and cultural traditions in end-of-life care.

Highlights included keynote presentations by Dr Feargal Twomey (HSE/RCPI National Clinical Lead for Palliative Care), Dr Amy Gadoud (Lancaster University, UK), and Winifred Ryan (National Healthcare Communication Programme), as well as insights from nurses, paramedics and undertakers shaping the future of care.

The day-long event also featured an interactive session for a number of delegates of a Virtual Dementia Experience. This experience bought in from the UK was an immersive, simulation-based training program designed to help delegates understand what it is like to live with dementia. One delegate said “It is the most powerful and memorable training I have ever done and should be available to all healthcare staff”.

There was a special performance by the talented St John’s National School Choir who along with their teachers Enya Mc Cafferty & Avril O Hanlon received a standing ovation. Navigation Coach Tara Rafter had delegates on their feet for a second time through her motivational final presentation exploring how to navigate your life’s compass. Closing remarks were delivered by Maurice Dillon, National HSE Lead for Palliative Care.

Speaking about the event, Jess Kelly, Director of Nursing said:

“The conference was about ensuring that patients receive the best possible palliative care in their preferred setting within the community — whether that be their own home, a nursing home, or a community hospital by promoting collaboration, sharing best practices, and enhancing quality and accessibility of care. By sharing learning and experience, we can continue to build compassionate, responsive, and person-centred services.”

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Cowboys and Heroes: Ireland’s Premier Country Music and Americana Festival returns to Drumcoura City Ranch this June Bank Holiday Weekend with a huge line-up of top country and Americana artists, new events, and family-friendly entertainment — making it a weekend not to be missed.

As part of this year’s partnership, the festival’s much-loved Family Fun Day will take place on Monday, 1st June, with all proceeds going directly to North West Hospice Charity. The Family Fun Day will include a wide range of activities and entertainment for all ages, offering festival-goers the chance to enjoy a great day out while supporting the enhancement and development of hospice care in the region.

Speaking about the partnership, Olive McTague, The Manager at North West Hospice Charity, said:

“As a proud local of Ballinamore and a long-time fan of this brilliant festival, I’m truly honoured that North West Hospice Charity has been chosen as the charity partner for such an iconic and much-loved event. Cowboys and Heroes brings people together from all across Ireland to celebrate music, friendship, and community spirit — values that are very much at the heart of what we do at North West Hospice Charity. The funds raised will make a real difference, helping us to continue supporting and developing services for patients and families who rely on our care and compassion every day”

Festival organiser Simon Power expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying:

“We’re thrilled to have North West Hospice Charity as our official charity partner this year. The hospice plays an incredible role in our region, providing comfort, care, and dignity to people and families when they need it most. Cowboys and Heroes has always been about community, and we’re proud that our event can help support such an important local service.”

Running for over ten years now, Cowboys and Heroes has become one of Ireland’s premier country music festivals, attracting thousands of fans for a weekend of live music, line dancing, family fun, and community celebration.

Festival-goers will have opportunities throughout the weekend to support North West Hospice Charity through on-site collections, donation points, and the dedicated Family Fun Day fundraiser on Monday, 1st June.

North West Hospice Charity extends heartfelt thanks to Simon Power and the entire Cowboys and Heroes team for their generosity and commitment to supporting hospice care in the North West.

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In collaboration with St. Mary’s College Ballisodare, Coola Post Primary School, Ballinamore Community School, and Summerhill College, Sligo, over 175 Transition Year students took part in an engaging one-hour session designed to spark conversation, challenge misconceptions, and build awareness of palliative care.

Before and after the session, students completed short questionnaires to measure changes in their knowledge and attitudes. The results showed a clear increase in understanding and empathy, with many students expressing how valuable it was to have the chance to talk openly about palliative care in a safe and supportive setting. Research ethics approval was obtained for this study, and the findings will be written up with the view to sharing at conferences and in publication. “It was inspiring to see how quickly students engaged with the topic and how willing they were to share their thoughts,” said Dervilla Dockery, Clinical Facilitator at North West Hospice.

The Transition Year Roadshow was warmly welcomed by both students and teachers, highlighting the importance of starting these conversations early. It also strengthened our long-standing connections with schools who continue to support North West Hospice through fundraising efforts — bringing the relationship full circle through education and awareness. The project marks an important step in promoting understanding, compassion, and openness around palliative care in our communities.

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It was a very special night for North West Hospice Charity, bringing together supporters, families, volunteers, healthcare colleagues, and friends to celebrate this milestone. Guests heard from our Charity Manager, Olive McTague, who introduced the series and spoke about its aim to open up gentle, accessible conversations around palliative care. She also paid tribute to the many people who gave their time and voices to the podcast — from nurses, social workers, and chaplains, to family members, volunteers, and experts.

The evening also featured our podcast host, Tara Rafter, who shared her own reflections on the journey of creating the series. Tara spoke movingly about the privilege of sitting with people’s stories, the laughter and tears along the way, and the practical insights she herself, has taken home.

Our Fundraising & Communications Manager, Mary Horkan, closed the evening by thanking all those who made the podcast possible, including the Sligo Park Hotel for their hospitality, Suzy for recording, editing, and graphics, the North West Hospice Charity staff team, and, of course, everyone who bravely shared their stories.

It was a night of warmth, gratitude, and hope — and the beginning of a new way to reach people with the compassion and support at the heart of hospice care.

You can listen to The Journey Together now, wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love for you to like, share, download, and rate the series — every click helps us reach more people who may find comfort and guidance in these conversations.

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The North West Hospice Charity Raffle draw for the stunning Audi A3 Sedan, generously donated by Stephen Mullen in loving memory of his wife Ann took place on Friday 27^th June 2025. With the draw overseen by independent auditor John Kennedy from Casey Kavanagh Auditors.

We’re delighted to announce the winner is…Ollie Lee from Mullinabreena, Sligo!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who entered the raffle and supported North West Hospice Charity!

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