Popular 'Care Cafe' to return during National Carers Week

John Lonergan cuts the ribbon on the ‘Care Cafe’, with Gina Delahunty, Catherine Cox, Lorraine Ryan and Mary Murphy

The hugely successful 'Care Café' will return to Carlow this year during the ninth National Carers Week.

This is the second year of the café, which was launched last Friday by The Carers Association and special guest John Lonergan.

While the official launch took place in The Carers Association's new outreach centre on Sleaty Road in Graiguecullen, the café itself will be open at Bagenal Court.

The 'Care Café' will be open from June 8 to 12, from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. each day, with plenty of home baking, tea, coffee and chat on offer. Other events at the café will include information days, free counselling, relaxation therapies, flower-arranging and much more and are open to family carers, their families and friends.

National Carers Week is all about celebrating and recognising the contribution of Ireland's family carers. According to the Census, there are 2,156 such carers in Carlow.

The week is coordinated by Care Alliance Ireland in partnership with eight other leading Irish organisations who support family carers: The Alzheimer Society, The Carers Association, The Irish Cancer Society, Caring for Carers Ireland, The Disability Federation of Ireland, MS Ireland, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, and The Irish Hospice Foundation.