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Nora Doherty being presented with the Cork Carer of the Year trophy by Pat O Connor, chairman Cork Area Irish Red Cross with Marie McSweeney, Community Services Officer do.

At a special meeting of the Cork Area Committee of the Irish Red Cross on Monday, Nora Doherty from Doneraile was awarded the Leslie Bean de Barra Red Cross Award for her 53 years of outstanding home nursing care given to members of her family since 1961.

On returning from England with her husband John in 1961, Nora (nee Curry) cared for her father-in-law Edward and mother-in-law Mary. Mary suffered five strokes leading to her death in 1987 aged 97 years. Nora also cared for her two sisters-in-law - Mamie in the later stages of her life until she died 1984, and Della who was Down's Syndrome and bed ridden for the last five years of her life, which ended in 1987 aged 53.

Nora nursed her brother-in-law's wife, also named Nora, who passed away in February 1993 aged 63 from cancer, her brother-in-law Eugene until he passed away in March 2010 from a Dementia related illness, and Edward Jr, who was deaf, from 1961 until his death in 2012 at aged 92.

Along with the Doherty family, Nora nursed her Dad Michael, who died from an Asthma related illness in March 1997 aged 81; her Mother Joan who died in September 1997 aged 85 and her sister Bridget, who passed away in October 2013.

Nora also has three daughters of her own that she cares for, one of whom was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 10 in 1979 and along with all that, continues to nurse her husband John who has had a hip and knee replacement and who recently suffered a fractured hip socket and has ongoing heart problems.

Marie McSweeney, Community Services Officer said: “Today is a very special day for The Cork Area of the Irish Red Cross. We are extremely happy to present this award to Nora and acknowledge all of the hard work and dedication she has shown throughout her life looking after family members who were sick or unable to look after themselves."

Marie went on to state that Nora provides an essential service to the vulnerable, displays true humanitarian values and is a wonderful example to other carers throughout Ireland.

"So many people put their time and energy into caring for their loved ones for very lengthy periods and it gives us great pleasure to honour them for their work”.

Nora is described as a loving, kind carer and a worthy recipient of the Leslie Bean de Barra Irish Red Cross Cork Carer of the Year award for 2014.

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