The Collins Family, made up of 14 brothers and sisters originally from the Kerry Road Tower, will host their 21st Annual ‘Collins Family Coffee Morning’ in aid of Marymount Hospice at the Castle Hotel on 17th September from 10am. There will be delicious treats, and amazing raffle prizes up for grabs thanks to the generous support of local businesses! The first coffee morning was first held back in 1994 when Christy Collins from the Kerry Road in Tower was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. His wife Bridget and her family came to rely on the support of the nurses and staff of Marymount Hospice to help care for Christy at home and in St. Patrick’s Hospice. As a token of the family’s appreciation Bridget decided to host her very first coffee morning in the Inglenook of the then Blarney Park Hotel. The total raised at the time was £300. Sadly Christy Collins lost his fight for life to MND on October 16th 1994 in the loving care of Marymount Hospice and Bridget and her family continued to fundraise for Marymount by hosting their annual coffee morning until 1997 when again the family relied on the support of Marymount Hospice who helped provide care for Bridget during her last days. Bridget Collins passed away in November of 1998 after a short battle for life with Pancreatic Cancer. As a result of amazing service offered to the Collins family throughout their parent’s illness and the continued local support offered by local businesses when it came to hosting, the family continued with, what had become a tradition, the Collins Coffee Morning fundraiser for Marymount Hospice. The event has become an annual fixture at the Blarney Castle Hotel after the closing of the Blarney Park Hotel and the coffee morning is carried on by the Collins sisters; Peggy, Rosie, Maureen, Christina, Kathleen, Josephine, Teresa, Ann, Martina and her granddaughters Gillian and Nichola and supported by all the family, thus passing on the tradition to the next generation which leads us to think that there will be many more coffee mornings to come. Irelands Biggest Coffee Morning, supported by Bewleys, is the main annual fundraising event in aid of local Hospice services and takes place on Thursday 17th September nationwide The event is in aid of a very worthy cause and is not to be missed.
