A community fundraiser in Cashel has delivered a meaningful boost for mental health care residents in South Tipperary, highlighting how local support can directly improve daily life in residential services. The latest initiative, backed by the Health Service Executive (HSE), will help strengthen activities and therapeutic supports for residents at Haywood Lodge in Clonmel.
Activities at Haywood Lodge were supported through funds raised at an event hosted by Larkspur Pitch and Putt Club in Cashel, Co. Tipperary. The money will assist staff in providing additional programmes, resources and day-to-day supports that enhance wellbeing, independence and social connection for people living in the centre.
Mental Health Care Support for Haywood Lodge Residents
Haywood Lodge, which opened in 2012, is a purpose-built residential facility in Clonmel designed to support different levels of mental health care needs. The centre includes two separate units:
- East House – for residents under the HSE South Tipperary Psychiatry of Later Life team
- West House – a dedicated Rehabilitation and Recovery unit
Each unit contains 20 en-suite bedrooms, while shared living spaces are arranged around two internal courtyards. The design also gives every resident bedroom direct access to an outdoor garden area, creating a calmer and more therapeutic environment for recovery, dementia care and long-term support.
This type of setting reflects the wider focus across gov.ie public services on dignity, person-centred care and quality-of-life outcomes in Health and Social Protection services.
Why Fundraising Matters in Residential Settings
According to staff at Haywood Lodge, activity programmes are not simply recreational extras. They are an important part of mental health care, helping residents stay engaged and supported through music, art, gardening and other therapeutic activities.
Assistant Director of Nursing Lisa Grant thanked participants, volunteers and organisers for supporting the event, noting that colleagues across residential and community mental health services in South Tipperary remain focused on resident welfare. She emphasised that these activity programmes are therapeutic in their own right and play a key role in daily care.
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Community Spirit at Larkspur Pitch and Putt Club
The fundraiser took place at the long-established Larkspur Park Pitch and Putt Club, founded in 1967 and known for its championship 18-hole course. The Cashel complex also provides tennis and badminton facilities, making it a valued community sports hub in Tipperary.
Haywood Lodge Activity Coordinator Aisling Carroll praised organiser Gemma Martin and the Larkspur team for delivering a successful event in excellent conditions. She also noted that the centre received useful fidget supplies for resident activities, while the fundraiser proceeds even helped fund a special ice cream visit to Haywood Lodge.
These seemingly small additions can make a major difference in residential mental health care, especially for people living with dementia who benefit from sensory supports, meaningful engagement and familiar moments of joy.
Broader Public Service Context in Ireland
Stories like this also underline how local initiatives work alongside national public bodies such as the Revenue Commissioners, Department of the Taoiseach, Education, Justice, Finance, Local Government and Heritage, and agencies including Tusla, HIQA, Citizens Information Board and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). While the HSE leads healthcare delivery, community support remains essential to improving outcomes across Ireland’s public service landscape.
Explore more: Ireland healthcare, community support and public sector development | HSE news Ireland, health services and residential care updates
A Positive Result for Mental Health Care in Tipperary
The Cashel fundraiser is a strong example of how local generosity can directly support mental health care in practical, compassionate ways. For Haywood Lodge residents, the benefits go beyond funding alone: they reinforce dignity, connection and community involvement. As Ireland continues to invest in better care through the HSE and wider public services, initiatives like this show that real impact often starts at local level.
Article/Image Courtesy: HSE
