The Board and staff of St Colman’s Care Centre wish to thank the ‘poet’ who penned a poem to them and signed off as C.I.A. – cocooned in Achill!
Their thoughtful greeting reached them via the An Post postcard.
A spokesperson stated: "Everyone at St Colman’s has been working very hard in recent weeks to have top quality hot meals prepared and delivered to households all over the Island and Polranny five days weekly.
"2,450 meals have been delivered since March 13 to 76 people in 65 households, accounting for 30 per cent of the normal annual figures. This has been achieved by a huge effort from a very dedicated team who have applied themselves most diligently to the onerous tasks involved in these very challenging times.
"The Board and staff of St Colman’s Care Centre are grateful to Mayo North East and the Department of Rural and Community Development through Mayo County Council for the grants received in recent weeks towards the purchase of catering equipment.
"Huge gratitude is also extended to the individuals and businesses who have donated and fundraised on their behalf. A special mention is due to Pamela O’Boyle - Tonragee - for her generous gesture in setting up an online fundraiser on their behalf, with amazing success.
"People can donate via St Colman’s Fundraiser on Pamela O'Boyle's Facebook page. St Colman’s Garden Fete, as the main annual fundraiser, has been postponed from its usual July date and a provisional date of Sunday August 23 has been made. It will of course be a different type of event to usual but the Board are hopeful for that Sunday in late August. Further details will be announced later."
St Colman’s home meals began in the mid 1980’s, when Presentation nun, Sr Asicus, delivered meals in Keel on her bicycle. Nearly four decades later, three vehicles cater for the deliveries on five routes, covering an area of 200 square kilometres.
This well established and quality service has been a core ingredient in the marvellous Achill Community Response, particularly supporting the large population in the locality who are cocooning in accordance with Covid 19 regulations.
The suspension of day care services since mid-March has been an unavoidable consequence of the outbreak. The day care is greatly missed by many individuals, carers and their families and St Colman's hopes to resume the service later on this year. In the meanwhile, they send wishes to all to stay safe and well.
All enquiries to St Colman’s Care Centre, Keel - Tel. 098-43248.
