Cancer centre nears completion

THE stone cobbled road meanders its way into the depths of Ballygriffey Woods. It requires careful manoeuvring. A mile in and there’s a clearance where stands an imposing circular-shaped stone building is nearing completion. It’s the Clare 250 Cancer Centre.
Centre campaigner, John Dunne gushes with pride that after what seems like an eternity, leaning heavily on the goodwill and generosity of the people of Clare, as well as scavenging for favours from different quarters, his dream and those of cancer sufferers in the county is finally taking concrete shape.
The dedicated day care centre, with extensive glass panelling, is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and is tastefully designed to nestle comfortably within its surrounds. It stands as testament to Dunne’s desire and the architectural ingenuity of Joe Hanrahan of the Ennis-based firm, Paddy Coleman Consultant Engineers and quantity surveyor Dave McLaughlin.
But what is now in place near Ruan hasn’t come cheaply and everything about the building is top class, as John has promised. In fact, to bring everything to its current stage of development, including the purchase of 49 acres of land from Coillte and the awarding of the building contract to Paddy Burke Builders, has cost €1.2 million.
“When I first mooted the idea of a dedicated cancer centre, I had grandiose ideas of what I wanted the building to look like both its terms of design and layout. But as time has gone on, I’ve been open to change.
“On our pilgrimages to Lourdes, I’ve listened carefully to cancer sufferers, listened to what their needs were and what they felt should be included in the centre. What we have is unique, the only purpose-built centre of its kind in the country and what’s included as regards facilities has been determined by the people who require it. They’ve dictated what should be in it and, so far, it’s been money well spent.
“We haven’t taken any short corners with the development and I don’t intend to either. In time I want to look back and be able to say, we have what we wanted rather than ‘pity we haven’t this or that’,” he says.
In relation to the investment, John has been true to his word. No part of the project at Ballygriffey has been undertaken where a loan had to be raised. What stands in the woods is debt free.
“This has been a dream of mine for quite a number of years and we are getting there. It has been a long, drawn-out campaign but thanks to the support of the people of Clare, both morally and financially, and particularly the team of cyclists who pedal their way around Clare each year, we are edging nearer our goal.
“We don’t have access to public coffers so we move at the rate our finances permit. That explains why it has taken this long. Our philosophy all along has been of not going into debt and banking on the generosity of the people of Clare to see things through. That won’t change.
“Unfortunately, we need an injection of funds now to furnish the centre. I know people, because of the current economic climate, don’t have as much disposal income as before. But I would appeal to their generosity. One look at this centre and I think they will be touched at what we are about.
“Some people have an awful cross to carry in life and we’ve found that cancer sufferers develop great bonds of friendship. We won’t be providing overnight accommodation here. People can come, enjoy the peace and tranquillity, listen to the birds singing and if they need to rest for a period, they will be able to do that. This will be a place for living, not a place where people come to die,” explains John.
Plans have also been prepared for a chapel that will have glass features as its centrepiece. That too requires funding that John doesn’t have just now.
“The finishing line is in sight, we just need one big, final push to get there. That’s why this year’s cycle is so important as regards generating funds. I would implore people to donate what they can and nearly every village in Clare is represented in the cycle.
“Furthermore, we don’t want to open the development piecemeal. We want everything in place beforehand. But we need money to achieve that. The people of Clare have been generous to the cyclists in the past. Without that generosity we wouldn’t be as far advanced with the project as we are. And without it continuing, we’ll struggle to see it through,” he admits.