LauraLynn Children's Hospice

Ireland's Children's Hospice

About LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice

LauraLynn is Ireland’s only Children’s Hospice providing palliative and hospice care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families from all across Ireland. LauraLynn, provides a range of services including, symptom management for children, music and play therapy, psychological support, family and sibling camps, short breaks, Crisis Care and End of Life Care. Care can be availed of in our specialised hospice in Leopardstown, at hospital, in the community, or in the family home, depending on the location and medical needs of the child and the family’s preference. LauraLynn provides vital bereavement supports to families after they have lost a child. LauraLynn also undertakes research into the relatively new area of children’s palliative care. LauraLynn care is provided free of charge for children and families. LauraLynn receives €1.5m core statutory funding per year which equates to approximately 33% of overall running costs for the hospice. LauraLynn relies primarily on fundraised income to fund its hospice services. Since opening in 2011, LauraLynn has cared for over 500 children and their families, with more than 340 children and families currently availing of care & supports.

For further information please visit lauralynn.ie.

History

The LauraLynn Children’s Hospice Foundation was set up in 2001 by Jane and Brendan McKenna after their daughters, Laura (4) and Lynn (15), died within two years of each other.

Having had personal experience of the lack of respite or specialist care for children with life-limiting conditions, Jane and Brendan established the LauraLynn Foundation and dreamed of building a hospice dedicated to their daughters' memory. They worked tirelessly raising funds and fulfilled their dream when they joined forces with The Children’s Sunshine Home Hospice Project and succeeded in building a dedicated children’s palliative care unit on a site adjoining the Children’s Sunshine Home. It was opened in September 2011 by President Mary McAleese and since then has provided care and support to more than 355 families from the time of diagnosis, through crises and where required at end of life and into bereavement.

Jane and Brendan continued to work in a voluntary capacity with the hospice helping to promote and fundraise for operational costs until August 2016 when they both retired from their public role in order to have time to pursue personal interests. However, they are still an important part of the ethos and story of the organisation that bears the names of their beautiful daughters.