A father-of-two diagnosed with cancer and Parkinson’s disease, has told how hospice care saved his life
When Declan Moore, 67, was referred to St Francis Hospice in Dublin’s Blanchardstown in 2024, he thought ‘is this the end?’. But with the help of a multidisciplinary team in the outpatient and day service, he was able to return to his HSE tech job.
Mr Moore, from Cabra in Dublin, joined 2FM broadcaster Laura Fox and former news presenter Eileen Dunne at the Hospice on Wednesday the 5th of August as they asked the public to support Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice on September 24 at hospicecoffeemorning.ie.
“You immediately think you’re in an end-of-life situation and I was quite scared of that,” he said.
“But thankfully, my life has been prolonged, and during my second time there, they definitely saved my life. “If I didn’t get that treatment, I definitely wouldn’t be here today.”
Eileen Dunne and Laura Fox, pictured with Hospice patient Declan Moore at the launch of Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice, in St Francis Hospice Blanchardstown
Now retired, he recently received further symptom management care at St Francis and is now back home with his family. Data shows that of a total of 2,331 patients cared for there last year, 204 were discharged.
One of the country’s biggest fundraisers, the coffee morning has generated more than €48.8million for Hospice care in Ireland since 1992.
Mr Moore, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019 and Parkinson’s in 2024, also told how he regained the use of his voice following gruelling hospital chemotherapy sessions.
A speech and language therapist – whose position at St Francis’s is funded through fundraised income – saw him within two days, rather than the two-year wait he faced outside the hospice.
The team also organised pain management, confronted his hypertension, introduced psychological help and adapted his medication to stop drugs prescribed for both conditions negatively impacting his health.
During a recent 10-week admission to the in-patient unit, he was able to watch the World Cup finals in bed, alongside wife Eileen, his sons Oisín and Fergal and family dog, Ava.
“I feel really good, even though I still have slight problems with my voice, and I have exercises to keep working on it,” he said.
“Hospices have such a calm approach to everything.
“I was treated so well, in all aspects of it, they allayed my fears that I wasn’t in an end-of-life situation, that I was in palliative care, which would give me a chance to extend my life.
“There’s a sense of genuine warmth, love and affection.”
Mary Flanagan, Chairperson of Together for Hospice, The National Hospice Movement, said: “Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice, one of our longest and most-loved fundraisers, is now in its 34th year raising funds for Hospice in-patient and community services around Ireland.
“No matter where you live, we are asking everyone to celebrate our countless coffee morning hosts, who give so selflessly of their time and energy in their local communities.
“This support is invaluable and funds vital services and quality initiatives, greatly improving care for patients with life-limiting illness.”
Register to host a coffee morning on Thursday, September 24 – or on a date that suits you – at hospicecoffeemorning.ie, call 0818 995 996 or if you cannot host or attend one, donate at: hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate
Together for Hospice, The National Hospice Movement, represents 24 Hospice and specialist palliative homecare providers supporting patients and their families across Ireland. Fundraised income is used by local hospice services to fund new buildings, refurbishment of existing buildings, staff, extra comforts for patients and their families, and innovative patient care projects nationwide. Funds raised through Together For Hospice campaigns support some of the core services funded by the HSE. Last year, the coffee morning fundraiser generated €2.1million in 2,330 events, helping to care for 20,000 patients and their families.
