Limerick Public Meeting, 01.07.09

Limerick Public Meeting,

Wednesday, 1 July, 2009

Clarion Hotel, Limerick

Members of the eight-person panel chaired by former Limerick Mayor and TD, Frank Prendergast, spoke briefly and then fielded questions during a successful session lasting more than 2½ hours.

The meeting was preceded by a sketch from “Cancer Tales”, part of a play by Nell Dunn. In an emotional and enlightening performance, Maria Bailey depicted how a mother dealt with the dying and death of her son.

The panel comprised:

• Dr Gareth Quin, Consultant in Emergency Medicine Mid-Western Regional Hospital
• Gwen Bowen, Solicitor, Bowen & Co., Sixmilebridge, Co Clare
• Jim Rhatigan, Head of Therapy/Social Care Services, Milford Hospice
• Gerry Griffin, Funeral Director, Griffin Funeral Services
• Mary O’Dwyer, Assistant District Head Public Health Nurse
• Alice McAuliffe, Social Housing for the Elderly
• Marie Carey, Ashlawn Nursing Home, Nenagh
• Carmel Toohey, Living Links (Suicide Bereavement)

The proceedings of this session, and all our public meetings in towns and cities, will be considered as part of the Report being compiled on the Forum on  End of Life.

Also many presentations to workshops, or selections from them, are being put on www.endoflife.ie over the coming months.