The Red Cross Carer of the Year Award has been developed to publicly recognise and celebrate the thousands of carers throughout the country, to acknowledge their dedication as voluntary carers in the home and the community and to raise awareness of the extraordinary contribution they make to vulnerable people’s lives.
Carers perform a significant and valuable role in our community as unpaid primary carers, providing support to someone in need. These heroes embody the humanitarian values that are at the heart of everything the Irish Red Cross does.
This year’s winner is Hilary O’Kelly who cares for her husband Tom and daughter Kate. When Kate was 7 years old, she was diagnosed with Friedrich’s Ataxia and has since developed type 1 diabetes, cardiomyopathy and scoliosis.
The amazing care Hilary provides for Kate means that her daily battle is eased considerably. Tom was in an accident 12 years ago and uses a wheelchair as a result. Mary has coped with this extremely well and now cares for Tom also.
Hilary is very active in her local community where she started a quilting club in the Community Hall and where women meet regularly making patchwork quilts. She is also a member of the community council that keep the village of Kilavullen looking its very best at all times. People comment on how Hilary is always in good form and regularly offers advice to people in dealing with disabilities.
The trophy presented to Hilary is in remembrance of Leslie Bean de Barra who was chairperson of the Irish Red Cross from 1950 – 1973. She received several prestigious awards for her outstanding work nationally and internationally.
She initiated and chaired the ‘Freedom from Hunger’ campaign and tirelessly encouraged people to be good neighbours and to look out for the vulnerable of all ages in society. The trophy is inscribed with the words – The Leslie Bean de Barra Perpetual Trophy for Home Nursing. Well deserved indeed Hilary.
