Group MD of Kirby Group Engineering, Nurse Marie Lyons, Alan Kerins, founder of Heroes’ Retreat and CEO of Iconic Camino, and Zoe Langsdale, Programme Manager at the Kylemore Abbey Global Centre in Galway as they launched the new programme. Kirby Group Engineering is the first company to get on board and sponsor Heroes’ Retreat, to the tune of €50,000. Photo: Mike O’Shaughnessy

Nominate a health worker for a free luxury retreat!

Iconic Camino - an Irish company offering retreats at some of Ireland’s most breathtaking locations - is teaming up with business to offer frontline healthcare workers a free three day retreat at Notre Dame Global Centre at Kylemore Abbey in County Galway. The ‘Heroes’ Retreat’ programme has been designed as a practical way to thank and support people who gave so much of their time and energy to battle the pandemic in Ireland since early last year.

Members of the public are being invited to nominate a healthcare worker they know for a place on a ‘Heroes’ Retreat’ on dates between now and the end of 2021. The focus will be on offering Rest, Relaxation and Recovery. The retreat’s itinerary will mirror the existing “Connemino Wellness Programme” at magical Kylemore Abbey, which is billed as the perfect way to indulge yourself with nourishing food, gentle hikes and amazing nature.

Iconic Camino is run by Alan Kerins, a former elite multi-code athlete, humanitarian, social entrepreneur and philanthropist who has helped raise millions of euro for many vital and life saving projects around the world.

Alan says, “For some time now I have been trying to work out a way to reward the incredible effort of our doctors, our nurses, care home and ambulance staff who all stepped forward as the rest of the world stepped back. They’re the true heroes of this pandemic. At Kylemore Abbey, we are surrounded by the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere on earth, and I think it is the perfect place for those frontline health workers to pause and reflect on the year that has passed. The great flexibility in using the Notre Dame Global Centre at Kylemore is that they will be able to bring either a partner or a friend to share the experience”.

Mayo-based nurse Marie Lyons was on the frontline during the worst phases of the pandemic last year and joined Alan for the launch: “The pandemic experience has taken an extremely heavy toll on healthcare workers, and it’s hard for us to take stock of what we’ve been through. Heroes’ Retreat is such a great chance for them to get away, catch their breath and take time to themselves. I’d urge everyone to start nominating people now - this is a brilliant way to say thanks for all their hard work”.

The opportunity to sponsor a weekend for frontline healthcare workers is also a fantastic chance for companies in Ireland to show their appreciation for the healthcare community. Kirby Group Engineering is the first to sign up to the scheme and has donated €50,000 to cover the cost of two weekends.

Alan says it shows the fantastic goodwill that’s out there towards health workers: “I am hugely grateful to Kirby Group for their financial support, and look forward to engaging with other businesses who could match their generosity. This is a chance to give back to those who have been giving so much of their own physical and mental energy to lead the fight against Covid and who deserve to be shown appreciation and gratitude."

NOMINATION DETAILS

Successful applicants will be chosen by random selection from nominations received online via https://iconiccaminos.ie/. For the purposes of the competition, 'Frontline Healthacare Worker is defined as anyone working in direct patient care in the health service during 2020 and 2021. Proof of employment may be required as part of the validation process, and a full list of terms and conditions is available from https://iconiccaminos.ie/.