A North Cork woman has won the 2022 Netwatch Cork Family Carer of the Year award.
Siobhán Lehane-Boyce from Dromcollogher, cares for three year old twin boys Daithí and Micheál who have GRIN2D sydrome.
Siobhán was nominated by Sinéad Curtin, an aunt of her husband Mike, who describes Siobhán as the twins’ voice, their fighter and the best mother they could have ever wished for. She adds that both parents show the utmost patience, love and tenderness when caring for their little boys.
Now in their 15th year, the Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards seek to recognise the remarkable contribution of the more than half a million people in Ireland who provide care at home to loved ones such as children or adults with additional needs, physical or intellectual disabilities, frail older people, those with palliative care needs or those living with chronic illnesses, mental health challenges or addiction.
The 19 million hours of unpaid care provided each week by family carers would cost the State €20 billion a year to replace.
Family Carers Ireland Community Support Manager for Cork, Peter Cox, said:
“Caring for a loved one at home can be rewarding but it can also be challenging, particularly in the absence of vital supports and services including respite. This can take a toll on a person’s physical, mental, financial and social wellbeing. Often, a person can find themselves taking on the role of a family carer with little or no warning. These are mums, dads, sons, daughters, siblings, relatives, friends and colleagues who sometimes don’t even see themselves as family carers. They are doing extraordinary work that is too often unseen and undervalued.
