St Josephs Secondary School Tulla, Co Clare
Climb for Labhaoise
Fundraising for Barretstown
Story
Our friend Labhaoise passed away on January 5th of this year after a six-year battle with cancer.
LABHAOISE’S BACKGROUND:
Labhaoise lived in Tulla, Co Clare with her Mam Louise, Dad Patrick and younger brother Padraic. Labhaoise attended St Mochulla’s Primary school, then went on to St Joseph’s Secondary, both in Tulla. Labhaoise wanted to study Zoology and then go on to be an Ornithologist ( study of birds) She absolutely loved animals but was obsessed by birds. She was a brilliant baker and was always in the kitchen making treats and cakes for everyone. She loved reading, her latest book craze was anything by Anthony Horowitz. She became big into crossword puzzles and sudoku which her Mam Louise thinks stemmed from spending so much time in hospital and confined to bed. Her dog, Bonny was everything to her. She loved drawing and sketching; her bedroom wall is covered with sketches - funnily enough, it’s mostly animals and birds.
LABHAOISE’S FIGHT: In 2014 Labhaoise was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, Labhaoise bravely underwent brain surgery twice, more than 60 rounds of radiotherapy and gruelling chemotherapy. All the while, she kept a smile on her face and a positive attitude.
Labhaoise worked tirelessly to raise funds for Barretstown House where she had attended summer camps over the years and met other children like herself who were determined not to let illness get in the way of their lives. Labhaoise loved Barretstown, which she said helped kids to feel like kids again. Even after losing her sight in the last few months, Labhaoise continued to take part in Zoom meetings with her peers on Barretstown’s Youth Leader’s Council.
Throughout her life Labhaoise showed tremendous courage and determination and this courage and determination were honoured by her peers and the wider community at both the Annual St Joseph’s Awards night where she received an award for Bravery and at Garda Youth Award where she was honoured last year in the Special Achievement category.
Fr Brendan Quinlivan, The Tulla Parish Priest and St Joseph’s Chaplin said: “Labhaoise showed us what it really means to be strong, because strength is not to be found in being the biggest, the toughest or the fastest. Real strength is found in the one who keeps on going, who keeps on trying, day after day, long after many of us would have given up.”
OUR MISSION: We want to reach as many people as possible with Labhaoise’s story and continue the amazing work she started in fundraising for Barrestown. Labhaoise had a special love for Barrestown and we at St Joseph’s want to do Labhaoise proud.
LABHAOISE’S BACKGROUND:
Labhaoise lived in Tulla, Co Clare with her Mam Louise, Dad Patrick and younger brother Padraic. Labhaoise attended St Mochulla’s Primary school, then went on to St Joseph’s Secondary, both in Tulla. Labhaoise wanted to study Zoology and then go on to be an Ornithologist ( study of birds) She absolutely loved animals but was obsessed by birds. She was a brilliant baker and was always in the kitchen making treats and cakes for everyone. She loved reading, her latest book craze was anything by Anthony Horowitz. She became big into crossword puzzles and sudoku which her Mam Louise thinks stemmed from spending so much time in hospital and confined to bed. Her dog, Bonny was everything to her. She loved drawing and sketching; her bedroom wall is covered with sketches - funnily enough, it’s mostly animals and birds.
LABHAOISE’S FIGHT: In 2014 Labhaoise was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, Labhaoise bravely underwent brain surgery twice, more than 60 rounds of radiotherapy and gruelling chemotherapy. All the while, she kept a smile on her face and a positive attitude.
Labhaoise worked tirelessly to raise funds for Barretstown House where she had attended summer camps over the years and met other children like herself who were determined not to let illness get in the way of their lives. Labhaoise loved Barretstown, which she said helped kids to feel like kids again. Even after losing her sight in the last few months, Labhaoise continued to take part in Zoom meetings with her peers on Barretstown’s Youth Leader’s Council.
Throughout her life Labhaoise showed tremendous courage and determination and this courage and determination were honoured by her peers and the wider community at both the Annual St Joseph’s Awards night where she received an award for Bravery and at Garda Youth Award where she was honoured last year in the Special Achievement category.
Fr Brendan Quinlivan, The Tulla Parish Priest and St Joseph’s Chaplin said: “Labhaoise showed us what it really means to be strong, because strength is not to be found in being the biggest, the toughest or the fastest. Real strength is found in the one who keeps on going, who keeps on trying, day after day, long after many of us would have given up.”
OUR MISSION: We want to reach as many people as possible with Labhaoise’s story and continue the amazing work she started in fundraising for Barrestown. Labhaoise had a special love for Barrestown and we at St Joseph’s want to do Labhaoise proud.
