Carer of the Year hits out at State for lack of recognition for carers

Cork Carer of the Year Mary McDonnell says she will keep on shouting out on behalf of people like herself who are doing the State some service and getting very little recognition for it.

Mary, 76, who lives in Douglas on the outskirts of Cork City, cares for her daughter, Sinead, 50, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy since she was 10-months-old.

Sinead uses a wheelchair, has severe scoliosis of the spine and needs intensive full-time care.

Mary, who has been a great supporter of the Carers Association over the years, said it was an honour and a privilege to have won the Cork title.

“It is great recognition, not just of the work that I do, but the work of the 187,000 family carers across Ireland — they really are unsung heroes,” she said yesterday.

“I was always interested in raising the profile of carers because for far too long we have not been recognised or valued by the Government or statutory bodies for the work we do.”

Nowadays, she said, carers had to fight very hard to get services and equipment for their loved ones

“With the ongoing cuts, we are all living in fear in relation to where the axe is going to drop next,” she said.

Mary, one of 15 local Carer of the Year Award recipients, will be in Dublin next Tuesday for the presentation of the National Carer of the Year Award and the Young Carer of the Award 2013.

Catherine Cox from the Carers Association, said family caring really was a labour of love.

“After a tough year of cutbacks, it has never been more important to recognise the contribution of family carers,” said Ms Cox.

Over 300 nominations were received for the awards. “The awards are important to highlight what many family carers are doing behind closed doors,” said Ms Cox.

The awards are sponsored by Tunstal Emergency Response.