Patricia and Pat Ahern, Yewston estate, Nenagh, last week presented €2,065 to Lelia Kelly and Kay O'Donoghue of North Tipperary Hospice. Photograph: Bridget Delaney

Nenagh's 'Christmas house' supports Suaimhneas

A local family's efforts to make their house a festive attraction during Christmas has resulted in the raising of more than €2,000 for the Suaimhneas Cancer Support Centre in Nenagh.

Every Christmas for the last 30 years or so, Pat and Patricia Ahern have decked out their house and garden in Yewston with a wonderful array of lights and decorations. People come from all over town and beyond to marvel at the sight.


In recent years, the Aherns decided to invite visitors to make a donation to North Tipperary Hospice. Last year, they collected €1,623 for the hospice.


This year, visitors to the Yewston family home left a total of €2,065. The money was presented last week to Kay O'Donoghue and Lelia Kelly of North Tipp Hospice, and it will go towards the hospice-run Suaimhneas Cancer Support Centre.


The Aherns switched on their Christmas lights with a well-attended launch party and raffle ticket giveaway on December 8th, and they left them up until January 6th. Patricia said the inspiration to light up the house for charity came from a village she visited in England. Every single house in the village had Christmas lights, and if one resident was unable to provide lights, the others would help out. The festive scene attracted thousands of visitors from all over the country and they left donations for a local cancer charity.


Patricia made the point that just about everyone is affected by cancer in some way and said the Aherns are delighted to support the local hospice.


Ms Kelly said the hospice is very grateful to the Aherns for their novel initiative. The money raised is being donated to Suaimhneas at Clonaslee, a drop-in centre for people suffering from cancer, recovering from treatment, or bereaved by the disease.


She wanted to make the point that all money raised locally is spent locally. Hospice care is provided free of charge, regardless of a patient or family's circumstances. North Tipperary Hospice needs to raise around €400,000 each year to cover all services.


The Aherns would like to thank everyone who provided prizes for their raffle draw, including Andrea Alonso (Forever Living), Kathryn Quirke, Coty, DK Travel, The Thatched Cottage, Hanly's, Costello's shop, Clare St Pharmacy, Philip's Furniture, Rumours Hair Salon, Collins' bakery, Manning's, Centra, Trinity Leisure Centre at the Abbey Court Hotel, Frances Ryan and Elizabeth Rose florists, Martina Jones (Back to Basics), Ballycommon Women's Group, and Philly Ryan. Thanks also to Shane Delaney for switching on the lights, and to Nenagh Brass Band, along with Emma, Diarmuid, Andrea, Patrick, Ben, Kevin, Mark and Oisín for playing music and helping out at the launch party.