History

SMALL BEGINNINGS

"A community can be judged by the care and concern it shows for the elderly" (Most Rev. Patrick Lennon D.D. Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin 1986)

Tullow has long been aware of the needs of its elderly. Tullow Muintir na Tire has for many years provided on a twice annual basis, the opportunity for our Senior Citizens to come together and to socialise at various venues.

In 1982 a committee was formed to organise a laundry for the elderly people of the locality, who it was felt needed this service. The laundry service was a completely voluntary operation run by volunteers from the local community it was based in part of the St Patricks G.A.A. Sports Centre a former Patrician Brothers property and now the Tullow Parish Community Centre.. From this base the Day Care Service began to evolve and expand.

In 1982 and 1984 the local chapter of the St Vincent de Paul Society in co-operation with the Day Care organised a weeks holiday for senior citizens at Nagle House, Youghal.

In 1985 a Chiropody service was introduced.

In 1984 the Day Care Committee purchased part of the old Vocational School for £5,000. This building had been left vacant for seven years and was in a sorry state of repair. It was declared structurally sound, and renovation work began in August 1985. Much of the refurbishment work on the building was completed by A.N.C.O. under the Youth Employment Scheme, thus saving considerable costs.

MAKING PROGRESS

When the newly converted building was officially opened in 1987 the interior consisted of a sitting room, dining room/kitchen, bathroom, laundry, hairdressing and chiropody room, stores and offices.

In the years that followed the Tullow Day Care Centre became a place where the Senior Citizens of the area could gather in comfort during the day to talk, read, look at television, get involved in crafts, play a game of bingo, have a meal, meet their friends, meet the nurse, chiropodist, social worker, hairdresser, have their laundry done, and generally brighten their lives while they continue to live at home. In the early 1990's a minibus was purchased to transport elderly to the centre form outline areas. In 1998 a second minibus was purchased.

In late 1998 it was discovered that the roof of the centre would have to be replaced due to dry-rot. At this time a re-evaluation of the operation of the centre showed that the present size of the Day Care Centre was inadequate to accommodate the increasing numbers of elderly using the centre and its facilities. It was then decided to renovate and extend the centre.

AMBITIOUS PLANS

While construction work was in progress the Tullow Day Care Centre continued its operation, first at The Slaney Hotel, Tullow, and then in The Community Hall in Ardattin.

In November 2001 The Tullow Day Care Centre moved back into its newly renovated and extended centre.

THE CENTRE TODAY

A four course meal is cooked and served in the centre for up to fifty people daily and about 65/70 dinners are delivered to people in their homes. A social evening is held in the centre every Monday evening and up to twenty-five people attend for supper and bingo.
Day trips and one week’s annual holiday are arranged.
Laundry, bathing, hairdressing, chiropody, physiotherapy, exercises, hobbies, library, are some of the facilities available in The Day Care Centre.
The centre's two minibuses and two vans operate in a fifteen miles (40 km) radius delivering meals on wheels and transporting the elderly, the infirm and some people in a wheelchair to and from the centre. The elderly benefit from this service.

Loneliness is a major problem especially for the retired and those living alone.