Limerick win again in Croke Park as care staff honoured
Celebrations in Bruff and Bruff after scooping awards in Dublin
LIMERICK’s outstanding recent record in Croke Park continued on Thursday night as staff at two Limerick care facilities were named as winners at a prestigious Nursing Home Ireland (NIHI) ceremony.
Both south Limerick-based NHI Care Awards 2026 winners were recognised for their outstanding dedication to older person care.
The staff at CareBright Dementia Village in Bruff were named team of the year (pictured above), while Brenda Cleary (pictured below), Senior Health Care Assistant at Beech Lodge Care Facility, won an individual care award.
This year saw a record-breaking number of submissions for these awards, with over 300 nominations made, illustrating the depth and breadth of excellence throughout Ireland's nursing home sector.
The Limerick based winners were joined by other nursing home professionals, as part of the 31 finalists - from 15 counties - that were shortlisted, following the deliberations of an expert independent judging panel.
The winners were announced at a gala dinner event in front of over 335 people from across the nursing home sector in a night that celebrated excellence in nursing, care assistance, activities coordination, culinary services, end-of-life care, dementia care, and innovative practice.
Speaking about CareBright dementia community in Bruff and Beech Lodge Care Facility in Bruff, Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO, said: "We are incredibly proud to recognise both of the Limerick- based finalists for the NHI Care Awards.
“The success of the entire CareBright Dementia Village Team (Bruff), and Brenda from Beech Lodge Care Facility at this year's NHI Care Awards reflects not only their personal dedication and skill, but also the exceptional standard of care being delivered across Ireland's nursing home sector.
“Every day, nursing home staff demonstrate remarkable compassion and professionalism in caring for older people. These awards provide a platform to celebrate their achievements and to say thank you for the profound difference they make to residents' lives and to their families."
The expert independent judging panel, led by Professor Amanda Phelan from the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health at DCU, alongside Paula O'Reilly, CEO of the Irish Hospice Foundation, and Andy Heffernan, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, selected the winners based on compassion, innovation, dedication, and impact on residents' quality of life.
The NHI Care Awards, held in association with Homecare Medical, are the premier national celebration of excellence in nursing home care in Ireland.
The awards promote best practice within the nursing home sector and provide an opportunity to pay tribute to individuals and teams demonstrating outstanding excellence and dedication in their work.