LauraLynn founders get county’s highest honour

JANE and Brendan McKenna, the founders of the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice Foundation, have been awarded the county’s Civic Honour by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
The McKennas were honoured for their work fundraising and raising awareness for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.
The couple received the award at a ceremony in County Hall, hosted by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, following a formal nomination by An Cathaoirleach, Cllr Barry Saul (FG).
They were joined by family and friends at last week’s civic reception.
The LauraLynn Children’s Hospice Foundation was founded in 2001 following the death of Jane and Brendan’s two daughters, Laura (4) and Lynn (13), within two years of each other.
They said: “We are delighted and honoured to have received a Civic Award in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown”.
This is only the second civic honour conferred by the council.
Cllr Saul said: “It is a great privilege to award the county’s highest honour – the Civic Honour – to Jane and Brendan for their tireless work in fundraising and raising awareness for families with children with life-limiting or threatening conditions requiring respite care.
“Jane and Brendan finally saw the result of their efforts in 2011 [with] the opening of Ireland’s only children’s hospice in the grounds of the Children’s Sunshine Home in Leopardstown.”
The hospice cost €5.5m to build, and costs €3.5m annually to run. The money is raised through extensive fundraising and through donations by members of the public and corporate organisations.
Cllr Saul presented the McKennas with a Certificate of Honour and a sterling silver scroll, crafted by a local silversmith, which bears a specially commissioned stamp for the centenary year of The Rising.
Other guests at the ceremony included local councillors, ministers and TDs, as well as board members and staff from the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.