It was with a deep sense of heartfelt sadness that the Kerry Hospice Foundation announced the passing of its founder member and chairman, Ted Moynihan.
By Con Dennehy
The 2017 Kerry Person of the Year, Mr. Moynihan (81) passed away on Thursday morning in the tender care of staff at the new Palliative Care In Patient Unit at University Hospital Kerry in the presence of his heartbroken, loving and deeply caring family.
Despite being diagnosed with cancer in 1983 and again in 2015, Ted Moynihan from Marian Park, Tralee had been the motivation behind the formation of the Kerry Hospice Foundation.
Branches of Hospice
Ted also co-ordinated the establishment of more than 20 branches of the Kerry Hospice Foundation, 18 branches are still in existence today.
Born in Blennerville, Ted was employed initially at the Tralee Boot Factory for nine years before the factory was gutted by fire in 1959. He subsequently took up employment during the construction of the Castelrosse Hotel in Killarney and also worked as a bus conductor with CIE from 1960 to 1963.
He later worked as a driver for Kerry Petroleum servicing the South Kerry route. From 1982 to 1987, he worked with Jason Products in Tralee and was employed with the US textile company, Klopman in Tralee from 1987 to 1997.
Dedicated and Loyal
Ted was a dedicated and loyal member of the FCA for more than 43 years reaching the rank of Sergeant Major.
He married Breda Foley from Marian Park, Tralee in 1964 and the couple have two sons, Teddy and Simon and four beautiful grandchildren Chloe, Jade, Simon and Blathnaid.
In February 1990, a conference held in Ballymullen Army Barracks in Tralee announced that the 15th Battalion of the F.C.A. was to undertake a 150 mile sponsored walk, that included the Ring of Kerry, with the proceeds going to Baile Mhuire, Tralee and the Kerry Cancer Support Group.
Movement in Kerry
This prompted Ted to establish a Hospice movement in Kerry, along with Dr. Tom McCormack F.R.C.S.I. at Tralee General Hospital.
He was deeply honoured and privileged to have been the chairman of the Tralee branch of Kerry Hospice for the past 28 years.
He also served as the Kerry Hospice Foundation chairman for 25 years. Thanks to the motivation, leadership and tireless work of Ted Moynihan, the hospice volunteers have raised more than €11 million in 25 years.
The Kerry Hospice Foundation works in close collaboration with the HSE South to develop the Palliative Care Services in Kerry.
Home Care Team
It started with the Community Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialists team – known then as the Home Care team – 25 years ago, providing hospice beds in Community Hospitals, the Palliative Day Care Unit in 2007 and now the state of the art 15 bed In Patient Unit that opened in December 2017.
The capital cost of the development of the In Patient Unit, €6.2 million, was fully funded by Kerry Hospice with a commitment for significant financial support from the Kerry Hospice Foundation amounting to €400,000 per year for a period of 5 years towards the on going operational costs of the unit.
Heavily Involved
Ted Moynihan has been heavily involved in the annual Hospice Coffee Morning and Sunflower Day for the past twenty years. He organised the first Good Friday Hospice Walk in 1998 and this is now one of the largest events of its kind in Kerry.
Among the many accolades bestowed to this proud Blennerville man was the 2010 All Ireland Volunteer Award, a Civic Reception from Tralee Town Council and he was Grand Marshall of the Tralee St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2011.
He was also accorded a civic reception from the members of the Tralee Municipal District on May 9th 2016.
A dedicated community volunteer, Ted has been involved in all aspects of community life. He was actively involved in the Tralee Footwear and F.C.A.basketball teams in the 1950’s, Kerins O’Rahillys GAA Club, Tralee Light Opera Society in the late 1950s and stage manager for Showboat which starred the late Jack Cruise.
Marian Park Residents
He was chairman of Marian Park Residents’ Association in late 1960’s and also chairman of Marian Park Community Games.
In the 1970s, he was involved with Pro Celtic Basketball Club and served as secretary of the Kerry County Basketball Board and president of the Munster Basketball Board from 1978 to 1979.
Ted was a founding member of Tralee Bay Sea Angling Club.
The Kerry Hospice Foundation is a team of ordinary people doing extraordinary work inspired by a true gentleman and leader in Ted Moynihan.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his loving wife Breda, who loaned Ted to the Kerry Hospice Foundation for 28 years, his sons Teddy and Simon, his four wonderful grandchildren Chloe, Jade, Simon and Blathnaid and extended family.
Funeral Arrangements for the Late Ted Moynihan
The death has occurred of Ted Moynihan, Marian Park, Tralee and late of Blennerville, Co. Kerry.
Peacefully on February 8th 2018. Beloved husband of Breda and dear father of Simon and Teddy. Sadly missed by his loving family, his grandchildren, sisters Noreen and Joan, daughter-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
Rest in Peace.
Reposing at The Gleasure Funeral Home, Tralee on Friday from 7.30 to 9.30 pm with removal to St. John’s Church. Requiem Mass on Saturday at 12 noon.
Interment afterwards in Rath Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers, if desired, to Kerry Hospice Foundation, U.H.K., or care of The Gleasure Funeral Home.
Date Published: Thursday 8th February 2018. Date of Death: Thursday 8th February 2018.
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