Dundalk woman wins award for work she does with respite care

Dundalk woman Shireen Sheridan was one of the top winners at the glittering My Life Staff Appreciation Night, held at Seagrave Barns, Dunany, last week.

Shireen was honoured with the Rising Star Award for her work with adults with acquired brain injuries and physical sensory issues at My Life’s Anam Chara respite service in Dundalk.

My Life is a leading and expanding provider of HIQA-registered services for adults with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities in the north-east.

The award recognises colleagues who are less than two years with the service and who excel in representing My Life’s culture and values and motivating and inspiring colleagues.

“I love caring for people and interacting with all the residents,” said a delighted Shireen, from Coulter Place.

“Our team at Anam Chara is brilliant. It is a special place to work.”

The My Life Spotlight Award went to a hugely popular winner, Alison Rice, from Racecourse Road.

Alison was honoured for being a person who consistently goes over and above their normal duties and creates a positive and inclusive work environment, consistently supporting colleagues.

The My Life by Estrela Hall group of services is owned by Michael and Tanya McCoy, who successfully created and developed the multi award-winning Moorehall Lodge Ardee and Moorehall Lodge Drogheda before they were sold in March 2020.

The annual Staff Appreciation Night allows the group to show its thanks to the people at the heart of its unique services.

One theme of the night was connection with long service awards presented along with a great welcome for retired staff members previously part of the Moorehall Living group of services, one of whom, Carol McLoughlin, presented the Rising Star award to great applause.

The Team of All Stars Award, the John McCoy Cup, was presented by Michael McCoy in honour of his father to the team from Tierney House in Ardee.

“This united team supports five adults in a house and each other in a magical way, with professional responses and consistent approaches,” said Michael.

The McCoy family have been supporting vulnerable adults for many years in locations around the north-east and the group last year opened a much-needed respite service for people with physical and sensory disabilities.

Ever expanding, they have opened services in the past two years used by people in Meath, Louth, Dublin and Monaghan and will be opening a new house in Ardee this month.

“We are a great place to work and believe in celebrating our colleagues and their professionalism. The appreciation night is one of the highlights of the year for us,” said CEO, Sean McCoy.

“Our colleagues are at the very heart of our care. What makes our service special is the dynamic and caring environment where colleagues support and care for each other. 

“For colleagues, providing care is personal and treat those people they care for as if they were a family member. This is unique and it's what sets our services apart.  

“With our continuing expansion we are actively recruiting and look forward to welcoming more new colleagues to the next year’s appreciation night.”

For more information about services and careers at My Life, see mleh.ie.