WATCH: €23 million community nursing unit opens after decade-long battle for elderly care

Nenagh marked a milestone on March 30th with the official opening of its new Community Nursing Unit. The ceremony was attended by Simon Harris, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, and Kieran O’Donnell, Minister of State for Older People and Housing. 

Alan Kelly, Labour TD for Tipperary North, Ryan O’Meara, Fianna Fáil TD, Michael Lowry TD, and local representatives including councillors JP O’Meara, Louise Morgan Walsh, and Pamela Quirke O’Meara were also in attendance. 

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The €23 million facility, built adjacent to Nenagh Hospital, provides 50 residential beds, including five respite beds and a two-bedroom palliative care suite.

Communal and support areas include visitor rooms, family accommodation, day spaces and a production kitchen, designed to promote social interaction and resident wellbeing.

Mr Harris said the unit would deliver “high quality, person-centred services” and enhance the lives of older people in Nenagh and surrounding areas.

Mr O’Donnell described it as a demonstration of government investment in community-based care, enabling residents to receive both short and long-term care closer to families.

The unit opened in phases. The Abbey Unit welcomed its first residents in October 2025, followed by the Ormond Unit in January 2026, bringing full capacity to 50 beds.

Registered with Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), it caters for residents across all dependency levels, supported by multidisciplinary teams including nursing, medical, allied health and support staff.

Beyond capacity, the emphasis is on environment. The building incorporates energy-efficient systems, including air source heat pumps, LED lighting and photovoltaic technology, achieving an A3 Building Energy Rating.

The overall design seeks to balance clinical requirements with a more domestic setting, with a stated focus on dignity, independence and reducing isolation among residents.

The opening also follows a protracted period of local advocacy. Alan Kelly, Labour TD for Tipperary North, described the occasion as “one of my proudest days representing the town of Nenagh and surrounds”, noting that he had “fought to get this home built for over a decade”.

He said the project required sustained effort at multiple stages and praised the local campaign that supported its delivery. In particular, he acknowledged the role of councillors Louise Morgan Walsh, Fiona Bonfield and Seamie Morris, citing their “solidarity and campaigning” during efforts to secure the facility’s opening.

The new unit provides a modern, dignified environment for the elderly, supporting independence, wellbeing, and connections with family and community.

Its opening marks the culmination of years of planning and local campaigning to deliver state-of-the-art care for the elderly in Nenagh and the surrounding area.

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