Contribution of Irish NHS nurses honoured at Mayo tree planting
MAYO University Hospital was honoured to host Dame Elizabeth Anionwu on Friday as she carried out a tree planting ceremony to recognise the contribution of Irish nurses over the last 75 years in the UK's National Health Service.
The ceremony was an opportunity to celebrate the legacy and heritage of the nursing community locally and internationally with a special focus on the 30,000 Irish nurses and their contribution to the NHS since it was established.
Dame Anionwu was in Castlebar to receive a Cherishing the Irish Diaspora Award, which was presented to her by the Mayo Emigrant Liaison Committee.
Dame Anionwu is an Emeritus Professor of Nursing at the University of West London. She was inspired to become a nurse at the age of four because, while growing up in care, she was treated by a wonderful nursing nun.
She was honoured with an Order of Merit in 2022 and a Damehood in 2017 for her work on improving the health and wellbeing of multi-ethnic communities.
The tree planting service was attended by Olayinka Aremu, president of the Association of Nigerian Nurses in Ireland, Conrad Bryan, director of the Mixed Race Irish Association, Kevin Bourke and Marianne Staunton from the Mayo Emigrant Liaison Committee and members of MUH nursing staff.
During the event Dame Elizabeth commended the positive impact that 30,000 Irish nurses have made to the NHS. She also spoke about the importance of working collaboratively and celebrating the unique and rich cultural heritage which the nursing community is built upon.
Padraig O Luanaigh, director of nursing, in Mayo University Hospital, said: “It was a huge honour for us to welcome Dame Elizabeth to MUH. She is a passionate advocate for the nursing profession and her work in campaigning for health equality is inspiring.
“We are extremely proud of our nursing team in MUH and this was an opportunity to acknowledge the commitment, professionalism and compassion of nurses both locally and globally.”
Dame Anionwu is of Irish/Nigerian heritage and was the first nurse since Florence Nightingale to be awarded the Order of Merit - a gift of the English monarch alone and only 24 living people can hold the title at any one time.
* More photos by Alison Laredo in tomorrow's print edition