Mary’s lockdown hits raise €2,000 for hospice homecare
MORE than €2,000 has been raised for North Wexford Hospice Homecare off the back of Councillor Mary Farrell’s nightly singing delights that have taken place on social media over the last few months.
Since the end of March, the Kilmuckridge based councillor has taken song requests from people of all ages from Wexford and beyond, and is close to having performed 365 times.
‘I’ve kept a list of all the songs I’ve performed every night, I call them my Lockdown Hits, and I’ve carried a notebook around with me throughout the lockdown to take down the requests of songs I’ve to learn,’ she said.
‘It has been brilliant and people are still engaging so much with it and I’m surprised but I’m delighted by it, it’s lovely. It get messages from people that they’re looking forward to it, and if I sing a song for a birthday or anniversary, it’s nice to see the recipient at the other end’.
A friend of Mary’s challenged her to get to 365 songs to mark each day of the year for the duration of lockdown, but the fundraising end of things came about for a very special reason.
‘North Wexford Hospice Homecare is a cause very close to our hearts as a family. Two years ago we were so grateful for the support of the palliative care team and the hospice that enabled us to care for our Mam, Peg Dempsey, at home for the last two months of her life.
‘When she came home from hospital we knew we had six to eight weeks. We all took time away from our commitments, the four of us Johnny, Margaret, Bridget and myself, and we knew that was the only way we could give her what she wanted. She wanted the dignity of being with her family, which was only possible with the fantastic support and advice of palliative care and the hospice.
They were truly amazing.
‘Wehadthehousesetupnearlylike a hospital but it was friendly. Her home and her room was bright and airy with flowers, and we wanted it to be comfortable experience for her, and they supported us in every way.
‘The daffodil nurses, the night nurses came in during the final week, the only way we can describe them is that they were Angels of Mercy. They were phenomenal. Just the care, empathy and kindness that they showed her, we couldn’t have imagined it any other way’.
Mary said that the attention to detail kept her mother as comfortable and as happy as possible in her final weeks.
‘We knew then that we had done the right thing but we knew we couldn’t have done that without the support that we got. This allowed her to be surrounded by her family, the people who loved her, friends and neighbours and the grandchildren and great grandchildren were given the time to make memories and show her how much she meant to them’.
All the family remember Peg as a kind-hearted and community-active lady.
‘Growing up she was strict but fair, and very proud of all of our achievements. She grew up with 11 siblings, and the Dempsey’s were a very musical family and talented in different ways with music.
‘She loved music, singing and listening but she wouldn’t have been very musical. Every night we’d say our prayers and she’d sing to us.
‘My mother was the one who got me to sing up on stage in a local concert when I was very young, about eight or nine and I’ve been singing ever since. Music became my whole life as I was brought up with traditional, country and Irish music and dancing. She would have fostered all that love for music in us children. She was always one of my most valued critics, as she encouraged us so much’.
A special part of this experience for Mary was when she sang her mother’s favourite song, Noreen Bawn.
‘That’s very special to me and it was way back at the beginning when I first played the song, but I did it again last week as it was her second anniversary. I did a different version of it, a slower version and it was meaningful. It’s a family favourite
‘But when I look back now, I loved all the songs. I had never sang Tennessee Whiskey before, and I remember doing Run by Snow Patrol on Easter Sunday when everyone was trying to honour front line workers and volunteers. I sang Stand By Me and From a Distance, and those songs would have had messages of hope, support and friendship’.
If you would like to make a donation, search ‘Mary Farrell County Wexford Hospice Homecare’ on www.GoFundMe.com.