WATCH: Roscommon mother welcomes milestone for new children’s hospice
A photo of the Cox family from Lisacul taken a few years ago, L to R: Linda, Aaron, Cathal, Brendan, and Dáire who is now 12. Aaron is now 17 and Cathal is 15.
A Lisacul family whose 12-year-old son requires round-the-clock care have welcomed the turning of the sod for the new Sunflower Children’s Hospice in Castlebar, describing it as a huge step forward for families across the west.
Linda Cox, mother of Dáire, said the hospice would spare families the exhausting journey to Dublin for specialist care and support.
Speaking after the milestone sod-turning ceremony on Friday, Linda said a trip to Dublin can take more than three hours and places a significant strain on Dáire, who experiences seizures and is PEG-fed.
She said having a specialist facility less than an hour from home would ease the burden on families and reduce their reliance on relatives and friends for help with daily routines.
It will be the first children’s hospice built outside Dublin and the first new children’s hospice developed in Ireland in more than 15 years.
Construction is expected to begin in January 2027 and building work on the €20m project is anticipated to take approximately two years.
More than €9 million has already been raised through community and corporate fundraising, donor support and local initiatives.
The hospice is scheduled to open to patients in 2029.
Watch interview with Linda and see full coverage of the sod-turning ceremony in Tuesday’s edition of the Roscommon Herald.
