26/12/2025
Another Christmas Day Has Passed In Gowran Abbey, Preceded By A Wonderful Week Of Christmas Festivities Enjoyed By All Of Us!
I Extend Thanks To All Families And Friends For Their Good Wishes, Support, And For The Many Gifts Received This Christmas Time Which Were Appreciated And Shared Among All Staff.
Christmas Is A Special Time, And I Am Very Proud And Appreciative Of Manu (Our Director Of Nursing) And Of ALL Staff Who Worked To Make It Extra Special For Our Gowran Abbey Family! Your Kindness And Care For Residents Is Appreciated More Than You May Ever Realise! THANK YOU!
Thanks Also To ‘The Two Quiet Men’ Who Worked Hard To Light Up Our Christmas Season! They Spent So Many Days Brightening Up Gowran Abbey Inside And Outside, Knowing That Those Long Days Of Decorating And Hanging Lights Would, All Too Soon, Result In Packing Everything Away Again Until Next Christmas! Their Efforts Were Appreciated By Residents, Visitors And Staff; And As Our Video Shows - They Certainly Made Sure That Dark Evenings Were Brighter In Gowran Abbey Throughout December!
Thanks To Our Regular Gowran Abbey ‘Santa’ Who Joined Our Christmas Party And Delivered Gifts To Residents. It Always Amazes Us That He Knows Each One Of Them By Name!! A Man Of Many Talents He Then Took Time To Prepare And Check Menus And To Make Sure All Ingredients Were In Stock -(As Always)- And To Ensure A Supply Of Food Was Available Especially For The Sumptuous Christmas Day Dinner.
Thanks Also To The ‘Three Ladies’ Who Worked Behind The Scenes Filling Santa’s Sleigh And Wrapping More Than 100 Christmas Gifts For Residents!
Santa Was Very Generous With His Gifts, But We Were Astounded And Very Appreciative Of The Many Individual ‘Care Packages’ And Christmas Cards Sent To Residents From Individuals, Schools, And Communities Throughout The Country. It Was Obvious Gifts Were Chosen With Care, And Our Residents Really Appreciated The Thoughtfulness! Thank You To All Those People Who Were So Kind And Generous And Ensured That Residents Had An Extra ‘Surprise Gift’ On Christmas Afternoon!
Thanks To Fr. Pat Dalton For Celebrating Our Christmas Mass, And To All Participated In Our Candlelight Carol Service Prior To The Arrival Of Baby Jesus In The Crib On Christmas Eve.
Early On Christmas Morning The ‘Gowran Abbey Elves’ Worked Very Hard Preparing The Dining Room And They Certainly Turned It Into A Festive ‘Banqueting Hall’ Worthy Of The Occasion! Thanks To All!
Residents And Staff Shared Friendship, Love, Music, And Laughter On Christmas Day, And I Express Heartfelt Thanks To Our Residents For The Smiles They Bring To Our Lives Not Just On Christmas Day, But EVERY Day!
Many Of Our Staff Are Hundreds Of Miles Away From Home This Christmas, Some For The First Time. I Know They Will Have Been Thinking Of ‘Home And Their Families’ In Kerela (India) This Christmas.
I Want To Acknowledge Them And Extend Appreciation And Thanks To Them For Sharing Their Christmas Music And Traditions With Us And For Being Part Of Our ‘Gowran Abbey Family’. > ഗൗറൻ ആബിയിലെ നിങ്ങളുടെ ജീവിതം ഞങ്ങളുമായി പങ്കിട്ടതിന് നന്ദി! (Thank You For Sharing Your Lives With Us In Gowran Abbey).
As We prepare To Begin A New Year, We Will Continue To Enjoy Life In Gowran Abbey. We Will Live, Love, Cry And Laugh Together Because That’s What Families Do! Most Importantly We Will ‘Care’ Because That Is ‘Our Gowran Abbey Ethos.’
My Christmas Message To Staff This Year Will Carry Into The Coming Year And Beyond > ‘No One Cares How Much You Know; Until They Know How Much You Care!!’
I Am Confident That ‘WE CARE’ For Our Much-Loved Residents, And We Are Privileged That They Have Chosen To Become Part Of ‘Our Gowran Abbey Family!’
May Peace, Health, And Love Be Shared By All Of Us This Coming Year!
Renewed Thanks And Good Wishes To All!
Mairéad M. Byrne
General Manager
