Nenagh’s ‘amazing new home’

There was a sense of saga coming to an end in Nenagh this week when Tánaiste Simon Harris visited to formally open the new Community Nursing Unit.

The €23 million unit at Tyone opened to its first group of nursing home residents last autumn after spending 12 months in use as a ‘stepdown facility’ for patients from University Hospital Limerick. That move brought thousands out to march in protest in 2024, but it was a controversy that seemed almost forgotten about last Monday as those in attendance celebrated the now fully-occupied 50-bed nursing home serving its originally intended purpose.

“This is something that has been long sought,” Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris commented at the official opening. He described the new Community Nursing Unit (CNU) as a “purpose-built, public community nursing unit, which will deliver high quality, person-centred services”. A key feature of the new unit, Mr Harris noted, are its five respite beds and a palliative care suite with two dedicated bedrooms.

The new unit replaces the 21-bed St Conlon’s CNU on Church Road, which was built in the 1970s and is now being repurposed as a mental health facility. The new CNU beside the hospital at Tyone has a wide range of communal and support accommodation including a central reception area, catering facilities, reflection room, resident day spaces, hairdressing room, visitor rooms, family overnight accommodation and a production kitchen. It is staffed with a multidisciplinary care team including nursing, medical, healthcare assistant, allied health and support staff.

ABBEY AND ORMOND

The new CNU has two residential units, one named after Nenagh’s historic Franciscan abbey, while the Ormond Unit is a reference to the town’s market past.

“I have no doubt that the facility will enhance the lives of older people in Nenagh and surrounding areas for many years to come,” said Mr Harris, who also visited the Dromin Road site where over 300 houses are being developed while in Nenagh on Monday. That was followed by a visit to the town’s Shane MacGowan murals and tourist office, where the Tánaiste met with Siobhán MacGowan and Tipperary Co Council representatives to hear about plans for the Unravelling Shane MacGowan heritage trail and potential restoration of Carney Cottage as a visitor attraction.

Mr Harris was accompanied by Minister of State for Older People and Housing, Kieran O’Donnell, who also met residents and staff of the new unit in Nenagh. He said the CNU “clearly illustrates the commitment of this Government to enhance community services for older people.

“This new state-of-the-art 50-bed unit is a major addition to services for older people in Nenagh and North Tipperary, and will ensure that they can receive both short and long-term care closer to their families and communities,” Minister O’Donnell said.

‘FOREBEARANCE’

Sandra Broderick, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Mid-West, took the opportunity to thank the residents, their families and people of North Tipperary for their “forbearance” during the delayed opening of the new unit.

“I wish our lovely residents every happiness in their new home,” said Mr Broderick, who expressed delight for all the residents at officially marking the opening of “their amazing new home”.

Christine Ivers, Director of Nursing, Nenagh CNU, said the residents, families and staff were consulted in planning and naming the new unit from the outset. “The new CNU provides residents with a living environment that allows for independence, health and wellbeing; a safe therapeutic setting in which the rights, privacy, dignity and confidentiality of residents are respected; and a space where staff can provide care in line with best practice, supported by families and friends who contribute to creating a warm, homely atmosphere,” Ms Ivers stated.

PROUD DAY FOR ALAN KELLY

Local TD Alan Kelly described the opening of the new CNU as “one of my proudest days representing the town of Nenagh and surrounds”. He said he had to fight to get the home built in a campaign that went back to 2015 when he was part of the government that put a new nursing home for Nenagh on its capital plan.

Deputy Kelly hit out at the decision to use the new facility as a stepdown for overcrowded UHL, and he praised the response that came from the local community. “I was so extremely proud of the people of Nenagh at that time for the support and solidarity they showed with the residents and staff of St Conlon’s,” he said.

“I know that all the residents who have moved there since can’t get over how fabulous it is,” Deputy Kelly said of the new home. “Delivering this community nursing home for Nenagh and surrounds is something I’ll forever be extremely proud of.”

Also present at the formal opening on Monday was local TD Ryan O’Meara. “It’s a very special day for Nenagh and one we’ve been waiting a long time for,” he said. “A great day in recognising the staff of the new community nursing unit, the staff for many, many years in St Conlon’s home and, very importantly, the residents and the families that have called St Conlon’s, and now the new CNU, home.”

Deputy O’Meara spoke about the uncertainty caused over the use of the CNU for an alternative purpose after it was built, a decision taken prior to his involvement in politics. “That has finally been rectified obviously with everyone living here now and it is important that it is recognised how long people waited for this,” he said