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.
Talk of the Town 