Cancer Support Group secures new premises in Tallaght Village

THE Tallaght Cancer Support Group (TCSG) has secured a new premises on 3 Main Road in Tallaght Village, where they will have an ‘open house’ next week for members of the community to drop in and find out more about them.

The new location, beside but unconnected to the Lifegate Church, is the culmination of months of work by volunteers to find a new space for the service, after they had to vacate their previous premises in Trustus House.

As previously reported in The Echo, TCSG had to leave Trustus House last April and had been searching for a new location up until three weeks ago, when they signed the lease on their new premises.

The new space – a two-storey house on Main Road – will allow the group to continue to provide their popular drop-in service, and other services like yoga and reflexology.

“There’s a lovely feel about the house,” Frances McNulty from TCSG told The Echo. “The reflexologist came down to see the house and he said it was perfect.

“Now we can have eight or ten people in one of the upstairs rooms, and we can have yoga classes in the house too, before we had to go to the Priory to do them.”

A small launch of the new premises for invited guests will take place on Friday, where the ribbon will be cut by TCSG client Audrey Hillary.

Ms Hillary, from Kiltipper, has been involved in the support group since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and they supported her through her cancer treatment.

Ms McNulty added: “Audrey came to us for support, and she got that and was very happy with it.”

The launch is being held in advance of an ‘open house’ every weekday next week, from 10am to 2pm, where people can drop in and find out more about the work of TCSG and the services they offer.

“The plan is, next week, for us to have an open house so anyone can come in,” said Ms McNulty. “We’ll be there to explain to people what you get out of a cancer support centre.”

There has been continuous demand for the TCSG’s services, both from cancer patients and hospital staff who wish to refer their patients, and the new space means the group can finally meet the demand.

“It’s a new beginning for us,” said Ms McNulty. “A few people have been on to us, asking us when we are opening again and when they can see us again. They miss the group.”

Ms McNulty added that the group is also looking for new volunteers. Interested parties can contact the group at the Tallaght  Cancer Support Group Facebook page or via email at ctallaght@yahoo.ie

“It’s very satisfying and rewarding when you do volunteer work,” explained Ms McNulty. “People come into us scared, because they don’t know what’s facing them, but they always go out happy and relaxed.”