Breast cancer diagnosis leads Lorraine on path to book launch and 'Hooley In Hall' fundraiser

The past couple of years have been a rollercoaster for Lorraine Gallagher. Diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2023, Lorraine, from Gurteen, has channelled huge energy into raising funds for SHOUT and Cancer Care Sligo.

A Hooley in the Hall event in Gurteen at the end of September raised just over €25,000 for the charities.

Daughter of Maureen and Liam Wilson, Lorraine’s mother’s mother, Kitty, was from Ballaghaderreen and was a woman she was always in awe of. When she got the chance Lorraine wrote a book on her granny Kitty’s life.

“I grew up with my granny, she lived with us when I was young and I was always fascinated by her life stories, she was very knowledgeable. I always wanted to write a book. When my children were small I would write short stories for them, I always had it in my head I would write a story on my granny’s life.”

She originally started the book on her granny 22 years ago when she wrote the first paragraph, but life took over, and she became the mother to four children. It was not until her cancer diagnosis in 2023 that she spent time writing the book.

Six days after finding a lump, she found out it was cancer and two weeks after finding the lump she started treatment. “It was a very scary time. I had no symptoms, in fact I was training for a Camino,” she explained.

What followed for Lorraine was 18 months of chemotherapy. Since her diagnosis she has spoken out on the topic and she has fundraised for charities that supported her.

She recently did a talk for the Sligo Rovers Football Club to highlight that there can be light at the end of tunnel.

Throughout her chemo two charities that stood out for Lorraine on the work they do were SHOUT (Sligo Hospital Oncology Unit Trust) and Cancer Care Sligo, which covers parts of Roscommon such as Boyle.

“When I was going through chemo, Cancer Care Sligo were brilliant.

“I was sitting at home one day and my tooth fell out, out of the blue and I totally panicked and rang them, and they were able to tell me this is normal for people on chemo and gave me the name of a dentist.” They provide people with counselling, reflexology, group chats and even transport to appointments.

Lorraine recalled the moment that made her want to fundraise. “They told me about this old man who lived eight miles outside Tubbercurry in his 80s and he was going through cancer treatment. Every morning he would walk eight miles from his house to Tubbercurry, get the bus from there to Galway, get his treatment, go back and then walk eight miles home. Cancer Care found out, and they provided a taxi and that was the day I decided I’m going to fundraise if I ever get my health back. I want to fundraise.”

On another occasion while in hospital getting treatment there weren’t enough comfortable chairs for everyone to sit on. “I asked how come there aren’t enough chairs for everybody, and they said that the really comfortable chairs were paid by the charity SHOUT. That was the day I decided to include SHOUT in any fundraising.” As well as this she wanted to highlight the work these charities do.

“We often get forgotten, like the man walking the roads and it’s important to remember them.” She also highlighted the “cruel reality” of being sick in Ireland and the vital financial support charities provide.

“Being sick in this country is not easy. I have been working all my life. Once you stop getting paid when you’re sick you get nothing; sick pay is minimal. I’m lucky my husband works and we are at a good stage with our children. I couldn’t imagine the financial pressures on a young single mother or young couple; it’s awful and that’s where SHOUT steps in and helps financially.” Even having someone to talk to throughout the process can be a massive help for someone, she added.

“I got fantastic support. I would have been lost without the Cancer Care people and the services they provide. They are just a phone call away. The woman in the centre in Tubbercurry always answered when I rang even with the silliest of questions. One day my nose, mouth and ears were all bleeding at the same time and I remember thinking oh my god I’m dying. I rang them and even just someone being there at the end of the line is enough. The nurses in oncology are brilliant, but they don’t have the time to deal with all the little issues.”

Once she got all clear, she felt it was time to start the process of fundraising. Originally she wanted to do a book launch to acknowledge the piece she wrote on her granny and with some encouragement from her GP, Dr. Helen Fitzsimons, she published her book. However, after she asked her neighbour, country singer Patrick Feeney, to perform at the launch the event grew and grew, leading to the Hooley in the Hall.

To help with the organising and ensure the event went smoothly Lorraine had a committee of 11 consisting of friends and family. Originally the night was set for the Coleman Centre, but with 17 acts coming on board they had to change the venue.

“Once word went out people were phoning me up looking to donate. We were donated up to €8,000 worth of spot prizes,” she remarked.

“I cannot believe the support, businesses in Gurteen, Boyle, Ballaghaderreen, Tubbercurry and all surrounding towns got behind us.” The concert sold out weeks before the event. “When I wrote the book, I didn’t think it would go anywhere. I wrote it to give it to my girls; it’s part fiction- it’s all stories I heard.”“It’s sad to think we have to fundraise for services like a bus to bring people to Galway for treatment. You don’t even get a medical card, you have to keep fighting for it and the medicine is so expensive and that’s where the two charities I fundraised for help out massively. They are vital.”

Lorraine got the all clear in August and can’t wait to get back to work.

•If you are interested in the book, ‘Kitty’ which was launched by Lorraine’s GP, Dr. Fitzsimons, it is available on Amazon.