‘A day we will never forget’

US President Joe Biden’s visit to the Mayo Hospice in Castlebar has been described as ‘very personal, poignant and deeply emotional’.  
Mayo Roscommon Hospice CEO Martina Jennings said that staff at the facility were ‘very proud’ to welcome President Biden to the facility on the final day of his trip to Ireland.
President Biden turned the sod on the facility in memory of his late son Beau in 2017.
The 80-year-old spent time with staff and patients at the hospice following a visit to Knock Shrine last Friday afternoon.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday evening (Monday), Ms Jennings described the occasion as ‘extremely emotional’.
While he is President of the United States, he was coming as a father who had lost his son …who had his final days in hospice. This was a very personal, poignant and deeply emotional visit,” Ms Jennings said.
“When he came in 2017, we knew that his values are family values through and through and that hasn’t changed.
“I suppose we were very proud that he came back to see the hospice and see that we built a sanctuary for everyone that goes through their doors, that at end-of-life, they do receive dignity, respect and compassion and care. He was proud to see the hospice and he was very generous of his time last Friday.”
“He did spend some time with the patients and the staff of the hospice. That was extremely emotional,” she added.
“Overall, I think it’s a day we will probably never forget, but also for him and his son and his sister, you could see the importance to them of being there and seeing his son’s name at the front door of the hospice.”
Ms Jennings said that President Biden was ‘taken aback’ by the state-of-the-art 15-bed palliative facility, which was opened in 2019.
The €15 million project was funded entirely through fundraising and donations and was completed with no outstanding debt.
“When he came in 2017, he did say that his son Beau had family and friends and everything around him in his final days, and he always thinks of the people that don’t have that support around them at that important time of their lives,” she said.
“That is the beauty of hospice. Hospice is there for everyone. It is a free service for everybody and once you come through the doors this is your home. The patients and the families and the staff are the most special people. They make a difficult time in everyone