New Playground at Paediatric Department University Hospital Galway

A new playground will shortly open at the paediatric department at University Hospital Galway. The development of the playground was facilitated by funds raised by the staff of St Anthony’s and Claddagh Credit Union and Cairde Othair na Gaillimhe (Friends of Galway Patients).

Commenting Chris Kane, General Manager Galway University Hospitals said, “We are very grateful to both the staff at St Anthony’s and Claddagh Credit Union and Cairde Othair na Gaillimhe for their significant contributions which enabled the development of this wonderful facility for children attending our paediatric department.  Spending time in hospital is often challenging for children and through the generosity  of the Credit Union and Cairde we now have an outside space for children to enjoy and play”.

Ted Coyle, Operations Manager at St Anthony’s Credit Union noted “The staff, Board and Members of St. Anthony's & Claddagh Credit Union were delighted that their charity events over the last six years have contributed to such a worthwhile project that will have such a positive impact on the children of St. Bernadette's Children Unit in UHG”.

Stephen Kearns, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Galway University Hospitals and Chair of the Cairde Group added, “The objective of Cairde is to provide additional supports and comforts for patients and families by targeted fundraising. These are things that would not be funded normally by the hospital's core budget. The children's playground exemplifies just such a project and has been funded from two events held to date. We are delighted in Cairde to have been able to help make it a reality.”

Pictured at the cheque presentation were (front from left to right) Chris Kane, General Manager GUH, Ted Coyle, Operations Manager, St. Anthony’s and Claddagh Credit Union, Julie Nohilly, Director of Nursing GUH, Lisa Porter, Paediatric Department,  Stephen Kearns, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Chair of Cairde, Declan Kelly, member of Cairde and Brian Thornton, KPMG and member of Cairde.

Back row left to right: Mary Scally, Clinical Nurse Manager Paediatric Department and Peadar O'hIcí, Chairman of St Anthony and Claddagh Credit Union and Mary Lane Heneghan, member of Cairde.