In pictures: 'You, Me and Palliative Care' exhibition launched in Letterkenny

Click on the arrows to go through the photos by Joe Boland of North West Newspix

Students from Coláiste Ailigh are hosting an exhibition, 'You, Me and Palliative Care' in Letterkenny today in partnership with Donegal Hospice.

The exhibition – officially launched by Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh from Altan - at the Co Lab at ATU Letterkenny coincides with Palliative Care week, the theme for which is 'you, me and palliative care'.

Earlier this year, Catherine Regan, the Director of Nursing, Donegal Hospice and Dr Jessica Sui, Consultant in Palliative Care, agreed that they wanted to look at something different that included the community for Palliative Care week.

The joint collaboration was easy as the hospice gardens flow down to meet the school. Donegal Hospice and Coláiste Ailigh have partnered in several projects.Mmusic students have performed for patients in Donegal Hospice and employees in Coláiste Ailigh volunteer in the Hospice.

By February, plans were well underway and the hospice met with art teacher Ann Marie NíChanainn and her students to discuss an art exhibition revolving around palliative care.

“The aim was to dispel the myth of palliative care and get the student’s perception on what palliative care means to them,” Ms Regan said.

“This project would allow them to have an individual response to the theme where they will have an opportunity to express their feelings and thoughts.”

Dr Sui and Ms Regan with the help of Christina French, Irish Speaking Champion for the Hospice, gave a brief information session to the students and their teacher about what palliative care is, when the hospice gets involved and what they hope to achieve from the exhibition.

Each piece of art is unique to the individual artist; it encompasses their own thoughts and feelings around palliative care.

Art teacher Ms Ní Chanainn said: “The project’s nature was very close to the core values and ethos of the ETB which are Respect, Care & Community and indeed very well aligned with some of Donegal Hospice’s own core values being – respect, quality, and partnership.

“We are very excited that this has allowed the school and the hospice to work together and that this will display the student's artistic creativity in this way, and for this special week.”