Maria Goretti Foundation named one of GAA’s five chosen charities for 2015

Members of the Maria Goretti Foundation at today’s announcement in Croke Park that they are one of the GAA’s five chosen charities for 2015

The Maria Goretti Foundation in Lordship received a huge boost today after being named as one of the GAA’s five chosen charities for 2015.

The children’s respite centre will now benefit from donations from the GAA alongside Diabetes Ireland, White Ribbon Ireland, Special Olympics Ireland and The Cuisle Cancer Support Centre.

The GAA at a national level will make a financial contribution to all five organisations and also explore ways to raise the profile of their respective activities over the course of the summer.

Founded by the late John Hanlon, the Maria Goretti Foundation came about after he realised there was no overnight respite care available for children with special needs in the area. Before he passed away, he left provision for a respite centre to be built.

His family have nurtured and carried his dream to fruition, and it was with much pride that the Respite Centre was officially opened in February 2014.

At present 50 families benefit from two night breaks every six weeks.

The Maria Goretti Foundation is responsible for the building and equipping of the centre. Plans are afoot to develop a sensory garden. The Foundation also hopes to secure enough finance to increase the present facility of four beds, four nights per week, to six beds, six nights per week.

Warm, welcoming, and colourful, each child receives a high level of care at the centre. When they arrive, their photo is already on the door of their room, their favourite toys laid out, and a poster of their favourite sports or pop star is hung on their wall. Children from 6 to 18 years who have autism, a physical, sensory, or a learning disability all find understanding in this special ‘home from home’ centre where priority is given to learning opportunities as well as having fun.

New children’s respite facility opening in Lordship today

A new 8 bed children’s respite facility will open in Lordship this afternoon.

The Maria Goretti Foundation Centre will provide respite for up to 39 children a year who are diagnosed with a disability.

It will allow parents and carers a couple of days’ break from the often challenging demands of providing full time care.

The only facility that currently caters for families in Louth is based in Navan, Co Meath, so this new facility will be most welcome.

The centre came about as a result of the experiences of the late John Hanlon, who had considerable contact with the family of a child with disabilities.

He was aware of the demands on the child’s parents and wanted to do something to help.

Mr Hanlon was suffering from Motor Neurone disease and passed away in 2008 but his family decided to follow through with his intentions after his death.

The new facility is funded by Louth Disability Services and the HSE, as well as from a donation from the Hanlon family and a site donated by the late Monica McDermott of Lordship.