On the 19th September 2002 the President of Ireland and her husband visited the Tullow Day Care Centre to meet the staff and the visitors.
They lifted the hearts of all the people and just look at the happy faces to see this.
Marian Doyle & Fr. Willy Byrne greeting the President and her husband on arrival.
The President enters the main room to great applause.
Fr. Willy Byrne gives a welcoming speach.
The members listen to the President
Ellen Aspinall with Bernie Cunnane
Mrs. Josie Brophy & Mrs.Tess Doyle
Hanna & Betty Nolan
Paddy Keating - longest member - making a presentation
Mary Cullen (Cullie) - longest serving lady member - making a presentation to the President
Mrs Aspinall & the President using sign language
Donny Studdard - the Lollypop man.
Susan Smith
Peg Jackman
Paddy Moran
Larry (Lal) Nolan
Peter Smithers
Mick Halligan
Mary Cullen
Bernie Brophy - the Chiropodist
Staff & Volunteers
Sarah Coady, Ted Doran, Mary Coady, Christine Griffin, Peg Nolan, Betty
Doran, Anne O'Neill
Ned Doyle, Collette Doyle, Ted Doran, Kathleen Dowling, Mary Coady
Christy Shannon
Sam Hatton
Sr. Mary Dalton, Simon Ronan, Laz Murphy
Jack McGrath
Nelly Ryan & Breda Esmonde
Ladies in 'red'
Mai Donohoe & Sadie Sparks
Mary Anne Murphy & Betty (Bessie) Watchorn
Josie Brophy & Tess Doyle
Danny Dowling
Jack Curran
Minet Quicke - Energy Healing
Alicia & Tom Pollard
Annie Roberts & Anne O'Dwyer - Hacketstown Day Care
Eta McCormack
Brenda Callaghan - Emergency Respond Unit
Ettie & Elizabeth Martin
Anne O'Dwyer
Gretta Dowling - Accordian Volunteer
Maureen Brown, Gretta Osborne & Marie Lalor
Gretta Osborne, Marie Lalor & Sara Stynes
Maureen Brown
Biddie Byrne & Eileen Croke (Oldest Member)
Sara Again
Mrs. Archibald
Sadie Kinsella
Marie Anne Madden
Willy Ryan & Mick Dowling
Jim & Anne Ralph
Nelly & Eileen Maher, Breda Fleming
Simon Ronan & Laz murphy
Kathleen Donovan
Mick O'Neill, Joe Scott & Paddy Keating
Joe O'Grady & Paddy Carroll
Mary Farell
Eileen Croke. Bernie Guilfoyle share Donegal memories with the President's Aid.
President Mary & Dr.
Martin McAleese
with the Committee
Fr. Willy Byrne, Vincent
Mahon, Simon Ronan, Laz Murphy, Luke Hade
Bernie Cunnane, Sr. Mary Dalton
The following was reported in the Nationalist covering the event.
Presidential welcome at Tullow Day Care Centre
“I’D SAY you all have great craic here,” smiled President Mary McAleese, as she cheerfully breezed through the doors of Tullow Day Care Centre last Thursday afternoon. And then as if to further confirm this, the President spied a poster on the wall: “We’re not senior citizens, we’re recycled teenagers,” She read this out, much to the amusement of all in Tullow Day Care Centre.
The President’s visit to the centre last Thursday afternoon fulfilled a promise she made to the centre three years earlier to visit. True to her word, all were delighted that, despite her busy schedule, Tullow Day Care Centre was high on her agenda.
There to welcome the President
were members of the board of management, staff and most importantly
the people who use the centre and thoroughly enjoyed Tullow Day Care
Centre’s new facilities.
Fr Willie Byrne, CC Tullow, spoke of how on a recent visit to Áras an
Uachtaráin the elderly from the Day Care Centre who travelled, offered
an invitation to the President to visit the centre. He expressed the
gratitude felt by all that the President had kindly accepted this invitation.
The President spoke of the many changes users of the Day Care Centre had experienced and the sacrifices they had made to provide such a vibrant and progressive centre for today’s generations.
“You are a generation that
deserve a lot of thanks and this centre in a small way gives something
back for the many gifts you have given us,” she said.
The President recalled a saying she had once heard which encapsulated
this sentiment:
“Those would drink the water should remember those who dug the well.
“I hope you feel this centre is in some way the people who drink the
water saying thank you,” she smiled.
The President spoke of the fantastic team and community spirit evident
in Tullow Day Care Centre. She congratulated the wonderful team of staff
and volunteers who fulfilled the dream of providing such a centre to
the people of Tullow, through their tireless work.
In particular she recalled the work of the late Sr Mercedes whose vision
it was, almost 20 years ago, to provide a place where the people of
Tullow could come to enjoy each other’s company and avail of the services
they require.
“Sr Mercedes is remembered today with great fondness. She was an example
of people who get stuck in and do the work,” the President praised.
Mrs McAleese admired the wonderful facilities of Tullow Day Care Centre
and paid tribute to all who had helped make the rebuilding work happen.
“It’s marvellous to see the range of services available here and they
deserve a big thank you to all who make them happen.”
Addressing the elderly she said, “you know you are coming to a place
where people love and respect you.”
The President joked about the polishing and tidying that must have gone
on in expectation of her visit.
“My daughter says to me that a visit from the President is worse than
getting a visit from your mother to your bedroom,” she said, much to
the amusement of her audience.
Ms Bernie Cunnane, on behalf of the board of management, extended a
sincere word of gratitude to the President. She said her visit was an
honour and an affirmation and a great boost to all in Tullow Day Care
Centre. Bernie also remembered the late Sr Mercedes who she said “would
have loved to have been here today”. “She was a visionary 20 years ago
and this building is a tribute to her,” she said.
Presentations were then made to the President by two of the people attending
Tullow Day Care Centre since its very beginning, Paddy Keating and Mary
(Cullie) Cullen.
The President and her husband, Martin, then walked around the centre
and had a word with the many staff members and the elderly who use the
service regularly. For everyone she met, she had a kind word, a laugh
and a note of encouragement.