PHOTO
Leane Moloney, Ann Garvey, Helen Lambert, Keith Earls, Mairead Cowan, Marian Murphy, Dr. John Twomey, Juliette McSweeney, Paul O’Connell, Frank Keane, Dr. Roy Philip
PHOTOGRAPHER : Kieran Clancy
This trolley was purchased by the hospital with a grant from The Ireland Funds, following the Wild Geese Rugby Dinner organised by The Ireland Fund of France in aid of the Children’s Ark on the eve of the France-Ireland Six Nations rugby match in Paris in March, 2015.
Dr. John Twomey, consultant paediatrician at the hospital and guest at the Wild Geese Dinner, was present to welcome Helen Lambert, President of The Ireland Fund of France, and Ann Garvey, Secretary-General of the association. He gave them a tour of the Children’s Ark Unit and explained how the Critical Care Trolley would play a vital role in the care of young patients who were seriously ill.
Juliette McSweeny, clinical nurse manager, also spoke about the importance of transporting young patients as quickly and as safely as possible, either within the hospital or while being transferred to an Intensive Care Unit in Dublin.
Given the Wild Geese Dinner’s strong association with the Ireland –France rugby match it was only natural that Paul O’Connell, captain of the Ireland Rugby team, and fellow Munster and Ireland teammate, Keith Earls were invited to the handover ceremony. The two players, both natives of Limerick, are frequent visitors to the Children’s Ark in their roles as goodwill ambassadors.
Helen Lambert said that the Ireland Fund of France had set itself the objective of making a difference to people’s lives; she felt that this would be the case for both staff and patients in the hospital with such a practical piece of equipment now ready to be used in case of an emergency.
She extended her thanks to Ronan O’Gara for his support as guest of honour at the Wild Geese Rugby dinner and also to the local businesses and organisations in the Midwest region who had contributed so generously to the charity auction at the event: Munster Rugby Club, Shannon Airport, Dromoland Castle, the Strand Hotel Limerick and Shannon Heritage.
