Carer of the Year Finalist: Sinead who is 'a support' to so many

Born and bred in Cavan, Sinead Hoey has been a nurse in Cavan Monaghan Palliative Care for the past nine years.

Prior to this, she worked as a children’s nurse for 23 years.

Sinead provides care in people’s homes as well as in Cavan hospital.

“It’s my paid job so I wouldn’t look at it as deserving an award but there you go,” she said.

The mother of two is the only nurse working in palliative care in Cavan. She gives care to those who are dying or who have a life limiting condition. She said she could be looking after 30-35 patients in Cavan hospital per day.

“It’s an extremely, extremely busy job.”

Sinead also took care of her sister Niamh who passed away recently.

“It was hard, she was my patient and she was my sister.

“She was so well looked after by everybody including all of our team.

“She passed away at home and that's all she wanted to do,” she said.

Sinead is passionate about all things GAA and also serves as the Drumalee GFC physiotherapist.

“That’s my rewind,” she said, explaining that she has been working with the senior men's team for 20 years.

“That’s what I love to do.”

Sinead hadn’t heard of the awards until she received a call revealing the news that she had been selected as a finalist.

“I didn’t even know I had been nominated.

“I was absolutely gob smacked because it’s what I do, I love my job.”

Working and living in Cavan, Sinead said she knows a lot of the people she cares for.

“Right down to your own family members unfortunately.”

She takes her job as a “great honour".

“It’s just to physically be present with them [patients].

“Sometimes it’s not the big stuff, it’s not the injection or the tablets.

“It’s purely being present and putting your hand on someone's shoulder and letting the family know that you’re not going to leave them, that you’re going to be with them right through until the very end.”