Sad Farewell To County Wicklow Nursing Home After Serving For 35 Years
Kylemore House, a famous County Wicklow nursing home, is closing its doors after serving for 35 years in Bray.
The owner of the nursing home said, “It has been an amazing journey” with “many great times” but now is the time to close doors after three decades. The owner said that the decision was made following her retirement. She said, “It is with a heavy heart”.
(Also read: House Prices Touch Approximately 9% Inflation Till June, Said CSO)
Ruth Behan, the owner stated, “It’s been an amazing journey, starting since we moved our young family to Bray in December 1989. During that time I’ve been blessed to have met and cared for so many wonderful people who have shared with us their sharp wit, talents and their life stories”.
Behan started off the nursing home in County Wicklow with the very first art exhibition that remained its highlight for years. She was excited about the event as it was one of the first few celebrations in Bray that are still reminisced with smile on her face, she professed.
She said that everyone was excited for their day out and to be recognised. She knew she had a great responsibility on her shoulders to bridge the gap between home and nursing home care, which remained the reason for her inauguration of this nursing home, in collaboration with HSE, in 1994.
She did not forget the early days when she and her team had to work hard and soon were able to earn local and European awards for ISO-certified quality management systems.
While telling the media, she was thrilled that the nursing home was awarded the EIQA runner-up prize for the best nursing home in Ireland. They were presented this award by the Minister for Health at that time, Mary Harney.
Another award that County Wicklow nursing home bagged was the best outdoor garden activities for the nursing residents in the same year.
Her most cherished prize was “Best Businessperson” which was awarded to her by Shay Fitzmaurice of the Chamber of Commerce in that year.
In the name of County Wicklow nursing care…
Two books were also published that were related to the lives of Kylemore House’s residents. There were short stories in “12 Lives- A Baker’s Dozen” in 2009, by George Hamilton in the Mermaid Arts Centre. The other book was “Memories” in 2014 by Simon Harris, now known as Taoiseach, at the Bray Head Hotel.
The book “12 Lives” was later transformed into a playwright with the help of her sister, Iris Park. The movie showed recorded tales of the residents. Only five of the contributing residents lived to see it while the rest of them passed away soon after the filming of the project started.
The stories included those of Paddy who was imprisoned for six years in Artane Boys School when he was only 10 years old. He experienced extreme levels of violence which he couldn’t recover from for quite a few years later, he confessed.
Gabrielle, Paddy’s sister, was drowned in the grief of losing her two children to meningitis. She always remembered the beautiful days of her marriage and became instantly sad when she remembered her husband who died at the age of 43.
Behan fondly mentioned her manager, Liz, who had been with her for two decades. “She is a great party person”, she said. Her manager was the one who was always organising fancy dress or singing shows for the residents which created a lively atmosphere in Kylemore House.
Most of all, Liz was a “loyal and supportive influence every step of the way in the care of our residents”, Behan testified.
Behan was downhearted that she would always remember the golden days, the laughter and familiar faces that had been in her care for several years.
