Write a comment
After a gap of two years due to the pandemic The Camlough based Brain Injury Foundation was delighted to be able to hold its annual five day respite break for brain injury survivors and their carers recently.
Bronach Rooney, Chair of BIF, said” Our members have been looking forward with great excitement to our break which took place this year for five days in the four star Sligo Park Hotel. Given the challenges of brain injury it is not easy for our members to get a break and we know that for quite a few this is the only break they will get.
We had two coaches this year due to the larger than normal number of wheelchair users participating and so 40 members left Newry with pick ups in Armagh and Aughnacloy. Our drivers were Veronica and Damien of Slane Coaches.
Our first stop was in Enniskillen where we had lovely soup, sandwiches and tea/coffee in the Killyhevlin Hotel and it was straight on then to Sligo.
We chose the Sligo Park Hotel as it offers excellent facilities for people with disabilities and recently won an award for accommodation and service. We had a fabulous four course dinner and then adjourned to the bar where music had been arranged for us.
At breakfast the next morning everyone expressed delight with the quality of their rooms with some remarking on the beautiful views they had of Ben Bulben, We headed off then for visits to Yeats Grave and Mullaghmore before landing in Donegal Town where members shopped and did some sightseeing before boarding the famous Donegal Bay Waterbus for a tour of the Bay. Next stop was McGarrigles Restaurant in Bundoran for a four course meal and it was home then to Sligo.
Members had Wednesday morning free to shop in Sligo with our coaches running a shuttle service. We left the hotel at 1pm for a visit to the Arigna mines in County Roscommon. Members were kitted out with safety gear and had a guided tour from one of the former miners. Many were stunned by the terrible conditions the miners had to endure.
It was on then to Lough Gill where we boarded the Rose of Inisfree cruiser for a dinner and music night around the isle of Inisfree. This turned out to be a fantastic occasion where we were entertained not only by musician Kieran Lundy from Tobercurry but by our own members, Charlotte Haffey, Shane Sands, Charles Magee, Teresa Rafferty Fitzpatrick and Frank Dolaghan. Sides were sore from laughing.
Next morning we headed for the Michael Coleman Centre of Traditional Music in Gurteen where we had a video on the history of Irish traditional instruments followed by a seisiun with four local musicians. Of course, our own entertainers played their parts to the full. Onn then to Flying with Eagles at nearby Ballymote where member Ally Wilson had his head very closely shaved by a buzzard! Other members held wild birds and several had an opportunity to nurse a newly born baby dee.
Quick dash to the hotel for dinner and on then to our big night out, a show with Michael English and Sandy Kelly in the Hawkswell Theatre Sligo. Michael and Sandy had the whole place on its feet singing many golden oldies and we had a ball.
To our delight Michael was staying in our hotel so on Friday morning he came down to our buses as we were leaving and posed for photos with everyone. This was a real bonus.
Our last stop on the way home was at the Rainbow Ballroom, the famous ballroom of romance in Glenfarne where there is a fantastic display of memorabilia from the showband era and we had a lovely trip down memory lane before heading home.
After the event some members expressed their feelings on the whole experience.
Julie Wilson from Loughgall, said “ Thanks BIF for a wonderful trip, filled with plenty of entertainment throughout Sligo. We also enjoyed daily, great food all of which was always accompanied by laughter/ conversations with great friends. We as a family (William, Charlotte, Ally & myself) thoroughly enjoyed our time away.
New member Aisling Helm from Lurgan said “ Thank you so much for an amazing time and the opportunity to meet some wonderful people, it feels now we've known you all for years!
The Cloughan family from Portadown said “ Thanks BIF. we had been told about the trips and how good they were but this went beyond our expectations; great food great crack with great friends
Jeanette McDermott from Camlough said, “Had a great time; never laughed so much in a long time. Met some new friends and you couldn’t ask for much more than that.
The break was organised by Manager Olive Hawthorne and Committee member Frank Dolaghan with a lot of help from many other members. We are already planning for next year. Anyone affected by brain injury across the Southern Trust is welcome to contact BIF on 30839943 for further information.
Further information
Frank Dolaghan 07740823713 or email info@thebraininjuryfoundation.com
