Anglo-Celt Rehab Cavan Person of the Year 2010 nominees - Killeshandra Social Services

Killeshandra Social Services gives tangible expression to that core philosophy that one should love and help one's neighbour. Founded in the early 1970s by a dedicated group of people, Killeshandra Social Services has contributed in a dynamic way to improving the quality of life of senior citizens living in their area. When it was founded 40 years ago Ireland was not the socially developed society it is today. Elderly people without immediate family could live lonely, isolated lives and the postman could be the only caller to break the monotony of their days. Killeshandra Social Services changed all that. With the active support of Loch Bawn hotel, its meals on wheels service was an inspired intervention that brought a ray of sunshine into the lives of many senior citizens from that part of County Cavan. Besides providing valuable sustenance the meals on wheels service became an important point of contact for the early recipients. The Christmas dinners and summer outings for the elderly are popular, and both events are cherished by the participants but are only part of a wide programme of activities that Killeshandra Social Services runs throughout the year. Thanks to the expertise of swimming instructor, the late Lily Morrow, elderly people were taught to swim and were soon able to do the crawl or breast stroke across the pool in Cavan. Drama classes took off with enthusiasm under the Abbey Theatre outreach programme and ended up with the staging of 'Stories of the Drumlins' in which senior citizens from Killeshandra trod the stage at the Peacock Theatre. This play was later performed by the late Mick Lally and other well known actors on RTÉ Radio One. A cross community organisation, Killeshandra Social Services is a pioneer in improving the quality of life of senior citizens. It was instrumental in securing daycare services such as chiropody, hairdressing and others for its elderly clients. A dedicated committee and team of workers has made it all possible with the support of much appreciated sponsors and volunteers.