Waterford Rotary raises €18,000 for two local healthcare support services
Pictured at The Granville Hotel where Waterford Rotary presented cheques for €9,000 each to Waterford Hospice and Solas were Rotary President Aedín Hassett; Sheila Quinn, Hospice; Barbara Murphy, Chair, Waterford Hospice; Paddy McMahon and Myles O'Connor, Solas; Gwen Daniels, UPMC; Orm Kenny, Rotary; Michael Skehan, Manager, Granville Hotel; Noel Frisby and Stephanie Taheny, Waterford Shopping Centre, Lisduggan; Trevor Darmody, Winterval; and Finn Brophy, WC&CC; Winterval. Photo: John Power
South East Waterford Rotary Club presented cheques totalling €18,000 to Waterford Hospice and Solas Cancer Support Centre at a special evening held in the Granville Hotel on February 23.
The reception, organised by Waterford Rotary, was attended by representatives of both beneficiary charities, Rotary members, and many of the businesses and organisations who supported the club’s 28th Annual Memorial Christmas Tree Appeal, through which the money was raised.
The appeal took place in John Robert’s Square, Waterford City, in 2025. UPMC Whitfield also hosted a Rotary Memorial Tree and collections took place at Waterford Shopping Centre, Lisduggan, Supervalu Hypercentre, Quish’s Supervalu in Tramore, Ardkeen Quality Food Store, and Jabil Healthcare.
A spokesperson for Waterford Rotary highlighted how Christmas is an important time for family, but it’s also a time when "we miss loved ones who are lost to us".
"The Rotary Memorial Tree has become an important and cherished way for all of us to remember our friends and family," said the spokesperson.
"This is why the Rotary club’s partnership with Waterford Hospice and Solas Cancer Support Centre at that time of year is so vital and appropriate, and why the Memorial Tree was, as always, a central feature in Waterford City’s Winterval Festival."
Commenting on the success of the appeal, Aedín Hassett, President of the Rotary Club of Waterford, said: “For so many years, the Memorial Christmas Tree has been at the heart of Christmas in Waterford. We are delighted that the appeal raised €18,000 for Waterford Hospice and Solas Cancer Support Centre this year, thanks to the incredible support of the community.”
The Rotary Memorial Tree organiser Orm Kenny said: “We are very grateful for the support received from the people of Waterford and from the many volunteers and organisations who supported the appeal."
Those organisations included: Waterford City and County Council; Winterval; UPMC Whitfield; Waterford Shopping Centre, Lisduggan; Supervalu The Hypercentre; Ardkeen Quality Food Store; Quish's Supervalu, Tramore; McDonalds; Phelan’s Pharmacy; Nolke Opticians; AIB; Sheridan Kia; Jabil Healthcare; and Sun Life.
"We remember our dear friend, Kathleen Fitzgerald, who was the first female president of Waterford Rotary Club and a dedicated supporter of the memorial tree for many years," said Orm.
"Our deep sympathies and sincere thanks go to her family and her colleagues in Georges Court Shopping Centre.”
Barbara Murphy, Chairperson Waterford Hospice expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the appeal.
"We are so grateful to Waterford Rotary Club for their continued support of Waterford Hospice," she said.
"Funds raised help to provide benefit to patients and their families of the South-East Palliative Care Service in their own home or place of residence in Waterford Community Care Area and to those availing of the services of the South-East Palliative Care Centre, through the provision of patient comforts and including equipment, amenities and complementary therapies, counselling and support services.”
Meanwhile, Tracy McDaid, Manager of the Solas Cancer Support Centre, explained what the money mean to the service: “We are very appreciative of the support of the Rotary Club in both raising funds and creating awareness of the free services we provide. These funds will help the charity continue to provide free support services to people impacted by a cancer experience in Waterford and throughout the Southeast."
