Remarks at the Opening of St. Luke’s Home Education Centre
Northbridge House, 28th June 2012
Tá an-áthas orm bheith i bhur measc inniu. Míle buíochas as an gcuireadh agus an fáilte sin.
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am delighted to be here to-day in Cork to officially open St. Luke’s Education Centre – Northbridge House. I would like to thank Bishop Paul Colton, President and Chairman of the Board of St. Luke’s Home for his kind invitation to perform this important task and all of you for that very warm welcome.
St. Luke’s has a long and proud history of compassion and care. In fact, for almost a century and a half you have been providing long term residential and respite care for the people of Cork.
St. Luke’s is a true example of inclusive citizenship, of the embodiment of a person centred ethos which recognises the intrinsic worth and dignity of each and every resident. Here, the patient is at the heart and centre of every decision and their right to respectful and personalised care is never forgotten. St Luke’s is not simply a building, or a place of residence, or indeed a place where a person is defined solely by their illness or incapacity; it is much more than that – it is a true community which provides solidarity, support, companionship and laughter, where strong friendships are formed and opportunities for pursuing new interests are nurtured and facilitated.
We are, of course, here today to celebrate an important milestone in the life of St. Luke’s: the completion of your recent development programme which has provided this amazing Education Centre, a larger Day Care Centre, new administration and staff facilities, an eight bed extension to the Dementia Care Unit and extended restaurant and kitchen facilities.
Is áit iontach é seo a chuirfidh go mór le suaimhneas agus cáilíocht beatha na ndaoine anseo in ionad Naomh Lúcás. Tabharfaidh an áit seo deis do chúramóirí forbairt a dhéanamh ar a gcuid scileanna cúraime do dhaoine aosta agus tiocfaidh feabhas ar cháilíocht, ar chomhsheasmhacht agus ar thábhacht an oideachais do dhaoine agus d’institiúidí atá tugtha do chúram den scoth a chur ar fáil do dhaoine aosta.
[This is a wonderful new space which will enhance the comfort of all of the patients here and their quality of life in St. Luke’s. It will also allow care givers the opportunity to enhance their skills in caring for older people and will improve the quality, consistency and relevance of education to individuals and institutions committed to the care of older people.]
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the incredible generosity of the Northbridge family, particularly Sidney Northbridge one of your late residents, whose very generous gift to St Luke’s of his farm on the Airport Road resulted in a very substantial financial bequest. This generosity has enabled the construction of this valuable new development.
These facilities are a wonderful testimony to Sidney’s kindness, compassion and philanthropy; and are something of which I am sure he would have been very proud to have his name associated with. Northbridge House is also a fitting memorial to the generosity of his brother and sister, Bill and Hilda – all of whom were residents here at St. Luke’s Home.
I would also like to acknowledge and congratulate all those involved in working on behalf of St. Luke’s Foundation which fund raises to ensure that St. Luke’s can continue to provide respite and residential services to the people of Cork. The work you do continues to make an enormous difference to the people who depend on St Luke’s for care and support, whether as a resident or a family member of a resident.
Older people have made, and continue to make, a great contribution to our communities and to wider society. As workers, volunteers, parents and grandparents they have shown the generosity and resilience to get through tough times while always prioritising the needs and welfare of the succeeding generation.
Older people have left us a social inheritance of great value and their wisdom is still a rich resource from which we can all benefit. It is only right and proper, therefore, that we should ensure that – in the autumn of their lives – older people enjoy the kind of quality and supportive facilities that are available in St. Luke’s. Even more than a certain brand of perfume – they are worth it.
Finally I would like to thank all of you here today for providing me with such a wonderful welcome. I wish you all every happiness in the future whether as a worker, resident or friend of St. Luke’s.
I am now delighted to declare Northbridge House officially open.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go leir.