St.Gobnaits Nursing Home

There was a house of happy campers this evening when we had a surprise visit from Shannon Ices🍦a perfect sunny evening to enjoy some ice cream ☀️

Happy birthday to the fabulous Bibi today!🎈No doubt she’ll celebrate with lots of singing and dancing as always 🥳

Well done ladies 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Well done to our ladies Catriona White and Maisie Clifford who finished 6th out of 32 in the All Ireland Australian Spoons in Longford. Conditions were very tough after so much rain during the week but our ladies battled to the end. Well done, we're all very proud of ye 👏 👏👏

There were great celebrations over the weekend to finish off a busy month of birthdays at St. Gobnaits! A very happy birthday to our lovely Maud 🎈🥳🎂

Best of luck to Catriona White and Maisie Clifford who are playing on Monday 26th in the All Ireland final of the Australian Spoons in Longford. We're all rooting for you ladies 🤞🤞🤞

Maura and Bryan came back for the day to finish off Nursing Homes week with a trip to Ballybunion as promised!! We were very lucky with the weather, and even got out for a walk on the beach ☀️ We stopped off for the most fabulous tea and scones in the Longcourt House Hotel. A special thanks to Paudie O’Regan, who was so helpful 🌟

There were lots of smiles in the house when Rachel called in to make some Rice Krispie buns with us today 🧁 we were lucky to have any buns in the end with all the tasting going on 😋

We’ve had so many great visitors this week. Lots of fun, dancing, singing and laughter. Thanks to everyone who has helped us to celebrate Nursing Homes week so far ✨

It was a great start to Nursing Homes Week when Maisie brought in the Golf Ladies Munster Cup yesterday. A fantastic achievement that everyone was delighted to celebrate 🥳

Wishing a very happy birthday to Kathleen, who celebrated a big birthday with family and friends over the weekend 🎈🎂

The residents enjoyed an afternoon of arts and crafts during the week. Anyone that stood still for a minute was at risk of getting painted too 🎨🖌️

Our own Maisie Clifford winning all round her!! Well done Mais. We are proud of you 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Happy 91st birthday to Pat Joe today 🥳🎈he has a real sweet tooth, so of course had to do a quick taste test of his birthday cake! Safe to say it went down a treat 🎂

A very happy birthday to our own lovely Kitty today 🥳🎈

Best of luck to our own Maisie Clifford and her friend Catriona White who have progressed to
the All Ireland final of the Australian spoons foursome 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Congrats to our beautiful May on the 94th birthday!! What an amazing lady ❤️

Our beautiful Helen with her beloved family on her daughter, Marianne’s, wedding day. Everyone looking gorgeous ❤️

I really don’t know where to start with this post. Dermot (RIP) and Teresa Kelleher bought a bungalow in 1985 and set up St. Gobnaits Nursing Home. My dad, a proud Ballyvourney man, knew that there was only name for the home. St. Gobnait is a much revered saint in his homestead.
In those days HIQA and regulations weren’t heard of. My mother cooked dinners at home and took them over the path to the nursing home which was adjacent to our own home. There were 5 residents at the time. No one got food poisoning and they were well cared for and happy!
Herself and my dad extended over the years. It eventually became a 20 bed home. Still very small by today’s standards, but that’s what makes it what it is! Homely and cosy. Not clinical.
In 2010 my mother asked me to take over the management of the home. I was apprehensive to say the least as I had a job that I loved. I took the plunge however moving from St.Joseph’s Foundation to St.Gobnait’s. My husband, Bryan, joined us in 2014 and our daughter in 2018. We took the plunge and bought the home from my mother in 2017. Then we were well and truly invested!!
The last few years in particular have been tough as with every nursing home, as we battled the horrible Covid pandemic. Thankfully none of our residents succumbed to it.
Today we bid farewell to our beloved residents and staff. It’s very much bittersweet and an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, but the time is right for us.
It’s time to hand over the reins to another family. Peggie Jonas and her family are equally as enthusiastic about maintaining the wonderful cosy home as we were. Ciara remains on, as do all the staff. Nothing changes really….apart from Bryan and I stepping back.
Our staff. What can I say?! They are the backbone of St.Gobnaits. They are such a loyal, dedicated, hardworking, caring bunch of people. We would have been lost without them. The work always got done but our home was about fun and laughter. Even on darker days, humour got us through. Many are with our family over 20 years. We pride ourselves on not having a big turnover of staff. The continuity of care is so important for our residents.
Today we had a little celebration for staff, families and residents. It was an emotional day but a wonderful one. We presented the residents with a statue for the garden as their religion is so important to them.
Bryan and I would like to thank everyone who joined us in the celebrations. Thanks for the cards, gifts, flowers and good wishes.
It’s on to the new chapter of life now. Not retiring but working differently I guess. I haven’t figured out what to do yet but first a rest and take stock. I won’t be a stranger to St.Gobnait’s though……❤️

Everyone was thrilled to see Arya on Friday. She was proudly wearing her rosettes she won for being the absolute best girl in several categories in Charleville for show !! Such a beautiful gentle lady. Thank you Jackie for always being so kind with your time ❤️

Thanks so much for the wonderfully talented Pauline Dore for doing a craft session with the gang today. Pauline, you are amazing!

From Bambi Thug to climbing Croagh Patrick!! Honestly, is there nothing this man can’t do?! We are so proud of you Patrick 👏🏻👏🏻❤️ Well done to you too Joan! 👍

A very special moment between a Nana and her Granddaughter! Our own Nora with her beautiful Siobhán on her wedding day ❤️

Our own Bambi Thug (Patrick!) 😂❤️

Our May has returned from her trip to Lourdes. Her first time on a plane at nearly 94 years of age! She’s going again next year she says! That’s the spirit May!! 😀❤️

Our amazing May is heading off to Lourdes today. She is going on 94 years of age and it’s her first time on a plane!! We are in awe of her. It just goes to show that age is only a number really. Have a ball May and we look forward to hearing all about it on Tuesday ❤️

Thanks Dermot for a most enjoyable evening.