Ballinrobe’s Joanne Hynes has been a Board member with the Mayo Roscommon Hospice
Foundation for 13 years and says her involvement has been “good for the soul”.

The South Mayo pharmacist served as chairperson with the organisation from 2017 to 2020 and while it has undeniably taken a lot of time and effort over the years, it has also been a great honour to be associated with such an excellent charity.

For Joanne, medicine and healthcare have always been in the family. Her father was a vet in Ballinrobe for many years, while her grandfather was the local GP. Joanne opened her own pharmacy in the South Mayo town some 29 years ago. Located at Cornmarket in Ballinrobe, she built her pharmacy business around trust and a caring concern for all her valued patients, customers, neighbours and friends.

Shortly after Joanne first opened her pharmacy, her husband John fell ill with cancer. During this time, she saw first hand the benefit and importance of palliative care for patients and their families. John sadly passed away when the couple’s two daughters were just three and five. The girls followed in their mother’s footsteps, both qualifying as pharmacists. Joanne later met and married her husband Brian and they went on to have two more children together, a girl (17) and a boy (15).

John Tully, the late Castlerea pharmacist, first introduced Joanne to the idea of getting involved with Mayo Roscommon Hospice.

John Tully had been a central figure in the organisation since its foundation in 1992. “John was a wonderful community man, friend, and a great pharmacist. He encouraged me to get involved and it has really been a brilliant experience over the last 13 years,” Joanne explained. “There’s no doubt that it takes up a lot of time sometimes, but even when life gets busy and you’re tempted to lighten the load, it’s very hard to imagine walking away from Mayo Roscommon Hospice. There is such a wonderful group of people involved with the Board and with the organisation as a whole. It’s really great to be around them, and there’s something so special about Hospice. When people get involved, they come to it with such a good heart,” she continued.

Of course, as well as her involvement with the Board, Joanne has another strong Hospice connection. Her mother, Geraldine May, was one of founding members of the Hospice Support Group in Ballinrobe. Definitely young at heart, Geraldine remains very active with the charity, as she approaches her 85th birthday later this year.

“There has been tremendous work done by so many over the years. From the Board perspective, it is inspiring to work alongside other volunteers with the purpose of achieving great things that will support people at a very difficult time of their lives – not just any people, but neighbours, friends, and family,” she added.

Joanne has nothing but praise for her fellow Board members, “When people say one person can’t make a difference, I think of this organisation. I think of the people who have a vision, and the people who get behind that vision. We can all play a part and I have really enjoyed my time on the Board. It has been good for the soul,” she smiled.

During her time as chairperson, she thoroughly enjoyed working alongside and supporting Martina and the team. “It has been so great to work with Martina. Not only does she make obstacles disappear, she doesn’t even see them. She is so passionate and she does everything she can to move mountains. We’re so lucky to have her as CEO and she’s equally lucky to be surrounded by so many brilliant people,” Joanne concluded.