Big changes in St Anne’s Roscrea

Over the coming weeks, the last remaining residents will vacate the villas in St Anne’s in Roscrea for a fully renovated and refurbished house in Dunkerrin.

This marks the completion of an earlier policy change to move from a centralised living setting to a more communal system to facilitate the further social and emotional development of all the residents, young and old, with disabilities resident in Roscrea.

Over the past few years management in St Anne’s, with departmental approval in conjunction with the support of parents and staff, took a bold and courageous decision to proceed with this communal living approach.

Houses were acquired, redesigned and specially refurbished with the needs of the residents in mind in towns and villages throughout North Tipperary, Offaly, Laois and further afield, setting a freshy approach for a new and more independent living style in a different environment.

The Daughters of Charity at St Anne’s through their governing body, Avista, championed this momentous policy decision at a time of declining vocations. The Order underwent a gradual withdrawal from the care and everyday working lives of the residents, while maintaining a certain oversight.

The day-to-day work of providing and caring for the residents required a much greater involvement of lay personnel, accompanied by new management structures for the various houses which had been acquired in the various regions.

From the early 1970s, as the sisters in St Anne’s became deeply involved in the whole area of care and disability of children and young adults, the funding of their work was heavily dependent on the aid and support of parents and volunteers.

PHENOMENAL SUPPORT

With phenomenal support from the people of Roscrea, various groups worked tirelessly over many years through annual events such as field days, Christmas bazaars, funding draws, church gate collections, golf outings and various other activities.

Thousands of people gathered in the grounds of St Anne’s to attend their mid-summer annual field day events where a wheel of fortune, a donkey derby, a host of stalls, a field auction and numerous other activities provided a wonderful day’s outing for young and old.  An annual church gate collection was held in various parishes throughout North Tipperary together with a golf outing at Roscrea Golf Club, all of which were organised by the Friends, parents and parish volunteers for over 30 years.

In most recent years greater government and departmental commitment to children with disability and learning difficulties led to much greater financial support to various religious orders and agencies involved in this vast area of care, which was warmly welcomed by parents and voluntary committees who had given so much of their time and energy in support of such work.

FITTING TIME

It is now a fitting time, as the last remaining residents leave the villas for a more communal living environment, to pay a huge tribute to the Daughters of Charity for all their work, care and support in the lives of special children, which continues through their governing body, Avista.  Similar plaudits are overdue to the parents, voluntary bodies and friends throughout the entire service area for their selfless commitment and voluntary work for so many years. To the present caring and nursing staff attached to the many houses throughout the service area we thank you sincerely on behalf of the parents.

While the service area for disability draws to a close on the grounds of St Anne’s, the primary school under the Department of Education continues to operate there, providing education and care for a number of children with special needs and learning difficulties with the continued support of The Daughters of Charity.

HUGE THANKS

To St Anne’s, who played a huge role in the lives of so many people over many decades, we say Míle Buíochas.

- Article written by Martin Slattery, on behalf of the parents, the Daughters of Charity, the friends and many volunteers.