Staff celebrate fifty years of helping people
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Maire Fitzgerald, Senior Physio, and John Griffin, Porter.Image 2 of 8
Karen Barry, Clodagh Clery and Angela O’Flynn, OT Department.Image 3 of 8
Sarita Ravindran and Reema Antony, Clinical Nurse Mananger.Image 4 of 8
Ciara Morrison, Speech and Language Therapist, Rachel O’Leary, former staff member, and Marian O’Brien, Speech and Language Therapist.Image 5 of 8
Siobhán Leneghan former nurse at St Finbarr’s and Fr Kevin Kiernan former chaplain at the hospital.Image 6 of 8
Rosaleen and Rachel Hyland from Douglas.Image 7 of 8
Damian McGovern, Chief Operating Officer CUH, and Helen Cahalane, Directior of Nursing CUH.Image 8 of 8
Alice O’Mahony, former nurse liaison officer, and Pauline O’Neill, former assistant director of nursing, at the hospital.Current and former staff of a rehabilitation unit in Cork city recently came together to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
The unit based out of St Finbarr’s Hospital campus is made up of two wards, St Clare’s and St Oliver’s, with a total of 71 beds. These 71 beds cared for 518 admissions in 2025 and 364 admissions in the first half of 2026. The unit runs under the governance of Cork University Hospital and offers care focused on supporting patients to return home.
Former patients spoke warmly about the role the unit played in supporting their recovery, independence and wellbeing. An Taoiseach Micheal Martin TD also sent a video of congratulations, fitting as he attended the 25th anniversary back in 2001.
Reema Anthony, Clinical Nurse Manager 3, St Finbarr’s Rehabilitation Unit said: “(This) is a joyful day for St Finbarr's Rehabilitation Unit, where we get to mark half a century of supporting adults to maximise their independence and return home. Our aim is to reduce long-term care admissions and increase home discharges with support, where needed.
“The team here includes physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians, social workers, occupational therapists, a discharge co-ordinator, pharmacists, household staff, specialty nursing, geriatricians and healthcare workers. It’s lovely to catch up with current and former colleagues and friends of the unit today and take pride in the amazing care provided here over the past 50 years.”
Opened in 1976 as the Acute Admission and Assessment Unit, the service began in temporary prefab buildings. Early leaders, including Patricia Lydon and the late Dr Michael Hyland, championed comprehensive geriatric assessment and multidisciplinary rehabilitation at a time when specialist care for older adults was limited. Dr Hyland’s impact helped shape geriatric medicine in Ireland and inspired future leaders in the field. Over the years, the service has expanded, with strong growth in health and social care teams and the integration of comprehensive, team-based rehabilitation planning.
Mari O’ Donovan, Acting Healthcare Area Manager Cork South and West, HSE South West commented: “The unit is a prime example of how Sláintecare should work - providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time. I know of so many families across Cork and beyond who are so grateful to the team in helping them get a loved one fit enough to go home. We look forward to continuing that excellent standard of care for the next 50 years.”