Brendan Gleeson encouraging people in Westmeath to support hospice coffee morning

Brendan Gleeson is encouraging people across north Westmeath to get behind a €2.4million national fundraising drive for 24 hospice and specialist palliative homecare providers that make up Together For Hospice, The National Hospice Movement.

The legendary actor is asking everyone to get brewing ahead of next month’s Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice, which has raised €45.3million for frontline Hospice care since 1992.

This year’s event takes place on September 26 – but supporters can host or attend one on a date that suits them, with every cent raised locally going to their local Hospice.

Both of Gleeson’s parents spent their final days in St Francis Hospice in Dublin, which is set to begin work on a new 24 single-room in-patient unit, at a cost of €29 million.

“I’m aware that I’m in the final chapters but you’re just trying to keep the creaky bits moving as well as possible,” said the Oscar-nominated actor as he officially launched the fundraiser on Wednesday (Aug21) in Bewley’s Café, Dublin.

“A great quote shared with me years ago was ‘good health is a golden crown which only those who are ill can see’, so the person who is sick is seeing how glorious it is.

“I try to keep an eye on the crown and as long as I’m motoring around alright, I appreciate life.”

Gleeson said there is a huge need for developments like those at St Francis Hospice, which will give families added privacy in their loved ones’ final days.

His father Francis spent his time there in a four-bed room, which made those moments a bit more difficult.

“The conversation was a little inhibited; you are in hearing distance of others, trying not to earwig, and at the same time attempting an intimate conversation with your loved one in quite a loud voice!

“Because patients are at that stage, you have to speak fairly loudly. Single rooms make it so much easier.

“I am asking everyone in north Westmeath on September 26, or whenever suits them, to organise, support or donate to a coffee morning, wherever it might be held.”

Margaret Claffey, chairperson at North Westmeath Hospice, said: “We are delighted Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning for Hospice, one of Together For Hospice’s longest and most loved fundraisers, is now in its 32nd year raising funds in support of Hospice in-patient and community services across Ireland.

“It is a chance to celebrate our coffee morning hosts, who give so selflessly of their time and energy in their local communities. This ongoing, unwavering support is invaluable and funds vital services and quality initiatives, enhancing care for patients living with life-limiting illness.”

Jason Doyle, Managing Director at Bewley’s Ireland, said the company was immensely proud to again support the event, now in its 32nd year making it the country’s most successful and longest charity partnerships.

“Bewley’s as an iconic Irish brand, was founded on the principle of caring for people and communities, which ties in perfectly with the ethos of Together For Hospice.

“We encourage everyone to host a coffee morning to help support the incredible, and often unseen, work that hospices nationwide carry out every day.

The ethos at the heart of Together For Hospice is whatever is raised locally stays locally and goes directly to each local Hospice service to innovate, build new facilities, develop new services and deliver quality improvements and extra benefits for patients and their family members.

Register to host a coffee morning on Thursday, September 26 – or on a date that suits you – at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996.

If you cannot host or attend a coffee morning, you can make a donation at hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate.