A MAN WHO cares for his wife and two sons, and an 11-year old girl who helps to care for her younger sister have been named carers of the year.
At an even in Dublin at the weekend, Noel Timothy (56) from Newcastle, Co Galway, won the overall Carer of the Year award for his work in caring for his wife Evelyn (also 56) who has dementia and multiple physical disabilities.
He also provides care for their sons Steven (27), who has physical disabilities following a motorbike accident three years ago, and Jamie (15) who has a moderate learning disability.
Mr Timothy said he never complained about his lot because he firmly believed in the socialist principle that the stronger in society should protect the weak. “I try to act on that belief at all times,” he said. He also paid tribute to his home help, Mary Reddington, who calls to the house every morning.
He won a holiday as part of his prize and said he was looking forward to it. “I’ve had no holiday since we got married and spent three days in west Cork in 1973”.
The Carers Association, which organised the awards, cited Mr Timothy’s “tireless dedication and selfless attitude”. Chief executive of the association Enda Egan said Mr Timothy had “dedicated his life to improving the quality of his family’s life”.
Mary Condon O’Connor (11) from Cahir, Co Tipperary, was named Young Carer of the Year for helping to care for her sister Áine (8) who has autism.
Her mother Mary said she was delighted to see her daughter being recognised because the sacrifices made by siblings of children with disabilities often went unrecognised. “Only for Mary I really couldn’t cope,” she said.
Mary jnr said she enjoyed caring for her only sister. She helped Áine to play on her physio ball, read to her, changed her nappy and taught her how to use the trampoline.
The Carers Association received more than 1,000 nominations for this year’s Carer of the Year awards.
The Munster award went to Rebecca Quirke (58) from Tipperary who has been caring for her husband John since he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1981. While providing full-time care for her husband, she also raised their four children and ran the family farm.
The Leinster award was won by James Corcoran (70) from Carlow. He has been caring for his wife, Helen (67) for over 14 years while rearing a family of eight. She has emphysema and uses a wheelchair.
Catherine Petherbridge (36) from Drumcondra won the Dublin award. She cares for her infant daughter Hannah who was born with half a heart and a 30 per cent chance of survival.
“Family carers are invaluable to Irish society and their enormous contribution has been recognised by the record number of nominations we received for our Carer of the Year Awards,” Mr Egan said.
