I stayed at Inis Aoibhinn for 3 and a half weeks while I was having Radiotherapy treatment. I’m from Glenties, Co Donegal and I really didn’t like the idea of staying in a B&B while getting treatment so I was very pleased when I heard that I had a place at Inis Aoibhinn.

I was made feel welcome from the moment I arrived. The staff are wonderful, kind and caring, and always take the time to see how you are doing. One of the greatest things about Inis Aoibhinn is that everyone staying here is in the same boat and that experience brings people together.

I’ve really enjoyed myself here, particularly the mid-week music nights which are legendary – in fact my GP told me before I came to Inis Aoibhinn to make sure that I brought my accordion with me! I know I will miss the banter with the staff and other residents when I leave and am very grateful to Cancer Care West for their support in making a difficult time much easier.

My diagnosis of breast cancer came out of the blue. I was lucky as it was caught very early, but that didn’t diminish the shock of hearing I had cancer. I had surgery followed by radiotherapy treatment in Galway, a 2.5 hour drive from my home in Boyle, Roscommon, and realised very quickly that I would have to make my health and recovery my priority.

I have met people who travelled to Galway for their daily radiotherapy treatment and I knew I would have found this very difficult, particularly in winter time, and so was hugely relieved to hear that I had a place to stay at Inis Aoibhinn. If it wasn’t for Inis Aoibhinn I would have stayed in a bed and breakfast for the 6 weeks of my treatment which would have caused additional stress and financial strain.

The first day I arrived at Inis Aoibhinn I experienced the lovely openness and welcome that everyone gives here. At Inis Aoibhinn people are kind and understanding, no-one intrudes but yet you know they are there for you. I feel very safe here. There is great flexibility at Inis Aoibhinn – I would come back after my treatment, make a cup of tea and have a rest when I needed it. At different times during my treatment, my mother and my friend stayed with me for a few days and they were made to feel very welcome as well. At the Cancer Support Centre up the road I have taken part in an art class, I’ve had reflexology and aromatherapy treatments – all free of charge.

You are very fragile with a cancer diagnosis and at the beginning it is very hard to process that you have cancer. Inis Aoibhinn provides the nurturing environment that is needed; it has definitely been part of my healing just to be here.