Aoife scoops nomination for Mum of the Year

A WOMAN from Lower Ormond has been successful in being among the nominations for the national Mum of Year Awards.

Aoife Donoghue, a mother of two, set up her own small firm making beautiful lampshades after she was forced to quit her job in the financial services sector in Nenagh after she contracted a rare illness that left her paralysed eight years ago.

Aoife was one of the star guests when Woman’s Way magazine and the electronics firm Beko hosted the recent Mum of the Year Awards 2024.

The enterprising woman from Terryglass was among exalted company on the major gala night, where RTÉ sports presenter Jacqui Hurley was named the Celebrity Mum of the Year. Adewumi Ademola, the mother of Irish Olympian sprinter, Rasheeda Adeleke, received the Special Recognition Award, while a survivor of coercive control, Nicola Hanney, was crowned the Woman’s Way and Beko’s Mum of the Year.

Aoife worked as a highly popular bank official at Permanent-tsb branch in Pearse Street, Nenagh, up to the time of her illness around a decade ago.

She went on to inspired everyone by her incredible get-up-and-go approach to overcoming her disability by founding her own company - her positive attitude to live being lauded on awards night.

CITATION

The organisers of the event in a citation said: “A rare and unexpected illness took away Aoife’s ability to walk, but it couldn’t rob her of her zest for life.

“The creative mum-of-two set up her own home-based business, Lola’s Lampshades, creating stunning pieces in vibrant colours.

“Her positive outlook is a beacon to her children and others.”

Aoife citation included a quote from her that summed up her positive approach in the face of terrible adversity: “Don’t waste time worrying,” she said. “If something comes along, deal with it then, and you’ll get through it.”

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

As a single mother of two, Aoife couldn’t find the right shade of pink lampshades she wanted to match new curtains she had put up in her sitting room almost a decade ago. So, being a creative person, she decided to make her own beautiful creations.

Back then she was still working in the bank in Nenagh and could only dream of an alternative life. But then her illness struck in 2016, proving in some ways to be a blessing in disguise as it opened up time for her to set up her own company after leaving her day job. At just 38, Aoife contracted a condition called transverse myelitis, a rare condition affecting the spine, which left her paralysed from my neck down initially.

She did manage to get the use of her arms back, but remained paralysed from the chest down.

Aoife spent six years between University Hospital Galway and the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire. Her house had to be completely refitted to make it wheelchair-accessible.

Ultimately finding herself home and wanting something to do, Aoife began making lampshades for friends and family. She then set up a Facebook page, an Instagram account and did a few Christmas markets. Lola’s Lampshades was born and has been a success ever since.

TURN OF FATE

Interviewed a few years ago by Ryan Tubridy on RTÉ radio, Aoife declared: “If I hadn’t ended up paralysed and in a wheelchair, Lola’s Lampshades wouldn’t have come about.”

Aoife makes beautiful drum lampshades for table lamps, floor lamps, and ceiling pendants with a wide variety of fabrics to suit every taste and home decor style.

The Irish Examiner is just one media outlet that has been effervescent in its praise for Aoife’s works, describing Lola’s Lampshades as “lush with the most gorgeous colour and pattern … all hand-made”.

HAVE A LOOK!

To view Aoife’s work visit : www. lolas lampshades.ie