In Pictures: Speakers share stories of resilience and resolve at Cliona’s Foundation event

USE ARROWS OR NEXT BUTTON TO SEE MORE PICTURES

THE CLANG of coffee cups and the rising sun over Limerick city accompanied an uplifting and encouraging talk about resilience and resolve all in aid of Cliona’s Foundation.

It was a dark, yet early start to the morning for those who attended the Cliona’s Foundation Resilience and Resolve Networking Breakfast at 7am in the Limerick Stand Hotel’s City View suite this Thursday morning.

Three inspiring speakers graced the stage to discuss their experiences with resilience and resolve, sports psychologist who helped Limerick to five All-Ireland titles, Caroline Currid, author Donal Ryan, and sports journalist and activist Joanne O’Riordan.

Mayor of Limerick City and County, Gerald Mitchell was on hand to kick start the morning, announcing that Cliona’s Foundation would be one of his chosen charities for his Mayor Charity Ball later this year.

“Thank you for gathering here this morning to support the invaluable work of Cliona’s a national charity that has been a beacon of hope for families facing immense challenges of caring for seriously ill children,” the Limerick mayor said.

“Established in 2008 Cliona’s has provided financial assistance to over 1,300 families demonstrating remarkable resilience, resolve, dedication and compassion.

“The roots of Cliona’s lie in the heart-wrenching tragedy, the loss of Brendan and Terry Ring’s 15-year-old daughter, Cliona to an inoperable brain tumour in 2006. From this profound sorrow, emerged an organisation that extends a lifeline to families in their darkest hours, offering financial support to alleviate the non-medical expenses associated with caring for a sick child,” he added.

Cliona’s mother, Terry Ring, co-founder of Cliona’s Foundation also addressed those in attendance.

“No family needs to be under financial duress or financial pressure when looking after a sick child… Thankfully, it has turned out to be very successful.

“Last year, we distributed €502,000 to 214 families.  When the charity was formed in 2008, we supported eight families.  So you know, there's been a huge increase, and that's not going to change, it's going to be the same going forward,” Ms Ring said.

A panel discussion followed the speeches by Mayor Mitchell and Ms Ring featuring Ms Currid, Mr Ryan and Ms O’Riordan.

The trio spent the morning speaking about their moments of resilience and resolve, with Mr Ryan speaking from his experience of rejection when first trying to get published, crediting his wife, Anne Marie for his resilience and resolve.

Ms O’Riordan spoke about her resilience and resolve by learning to live her life to the fullest after being born with a condition called  Tetra-Amelia Syndrome or Total Amelia (no limbs). The now sports journalist and law student spoke about her life growing up with a love of sports and embracing your down days.

Ms Currid spoke about how it was an “incredible privilege” working with the Limerick hurlers and spoke about resilience and resolve from a personal level and also building the Limerick hurler’s own resilience and resolve.