Friday 26th November 2010 was a momentous and exciting day for all involved in Bru Columbanus as they welcomed the President of Ireland, Mary McAlese. President McAlese was met by Superintendent Charles Barry, whose nephew Aaron Kiely was the inspiration behind Bru Columbanus.
Aaron Kiely, who it just 11 months had to travel to Bristol hospital for cancer treatment. (His family were living in the UK at the time.) On arrival the family were given keys to accommodation named “Click House”, so the anxiety of finding and funding accommodation was alleviated. A short time later Aaron’s uncle, Charlie Barry, was approached by the Knights of St. Columbanus as they wanted to develop a community based project. The knights of St. Columbanus had sold off their Cork city centre premises and were interested in investing the money in a community based project. Mr. Barry suggested replicating the services provided in Click House. With a lot of hard work and within a very short time Brú Columbanus was established and welcomes it’s first family in September 2005.
President McAlese was given a tour of the house by the House Manager, Mairead Waters- our President was more than impressed with the facilities which include 26 ensuite bedrooms with supporting kitchens and lounges where families can meet and offer support and understanding to each other at such a difficult time. In her speech President McAlese acknowledged the immense work carried out by the volunteers.
She compared Bru Columbanus to a modern day Meitheal- community coming together, supporting each other and truly helping one another at a time when they are down and vulnerable. President McAlese, spoke passionately and said “I defy anyone to tell me this is not a great country, when you see the incredible work that is carried out here and by our voluntary organizations though out the country” This was met by a warm round of applause.
After the speeches, Anne-Maria O’Connor, Event Manager introduced the President to some of the families who had stayed in Bru Columbanus including:
Lorraine and Michael Sugrue from Castletownbere, stayed for 16 weeks when their baby (Isobel) was born premature and weighed just one pound. Isobel recently celebrated her third birthday. Lorrraine said of her stay “We would have been lost without Bru Columbanus, it enabled us to be at the hospital within minutes in crucial weeks and months when we were not sure if Isobel would survive”
Ann and Russell Kiely, Limerick shared their experience with the President- unfortunately they did not have such a happy ending as Ann’s husband, Russell’s father passed away in C.U.H. But they were so grateful to have been able to be close to him and to have stayed in Bru.