Search
07 Sept 2025
Search
07 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
The Ballyroan community rolled out the red carpet on Wednesday last as distinguished guests and church leaders made the trip to the village to celebrate the work of Sue Ryder and mark her centenary.
USE THE ARROWS OR 'NEXT' TO BROWSE THROUGH THE FULL GALLERY
The event marked the coming together of the local community with the charity’s UK roots in a special Ecumenical service celebrated by local clergy Rev Patrick Harvey and Rev Fr. Paddy Byrne.
The congregation included the very active Ballyroan Development Group, special guests Reverend Rob Pestell and colleagues from Sue Ryder UK who represented the Anglican Church, Rev. Olivia Williams Church of Ireland, Tullow, and Avril Hogan of the Methodist Church Carlow.
Sue Ryder Ireland was established by former TD and Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Charles McDonald, who is the Irish branch's Life President, in 1979 with the Ballyroan facility officially opened in 1984.
Speakers on the day included Charles McDonald, Chairperson Seamus O’Connor and Secretary Seamus McWey who welcomed the distinguished guests and spoke about establishing and developing the Irish operations as the charity fast approaches its 50-year milestone.
Following the Ecumenical service, attendees toasted the day with a fine meal and also treated their guests to a rendition of the Skies O’er Ballyroan.
Sue Ryder Ireland champions independent living and provides a secure, comfortable home to 295 residents across their six residential care homes in Ballyroan, Portlaoise, Carlow, Nenagh, Holycross and Dalkey. They also have 26 charity shops across southern Ireland, with all profits from the shops going towards capital development.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
