Sinead shares her experience and the enjoyment she gets from caring for Daniel

A TALLAGHT woman who is a carer for her teenage son has shared her experience and the enjoyment she gets from caring – and is urging other carers to reach out, as they’re not alone.

Sinead Tighe spoke to The Echo to highlight National Carers Week, which is from June 12 to 18, and she also manned a stall in The Square on Monday and Tuesday to raise awareness.

Ms Tighe offered advice to and support for other carers as she is a full-time carer for her 16- year-old son Daniel.

Daniel has a rare genetic condition called Sotos Syndrome that affects sensory processing and growth, and he is a wheelchair user.

When asked what the recognition of carers during National Carers Week means to her, Ms Tighe said: “As carers, we’re not recognised as any entity by the government for the work we do.

“This is taking a week to highlight carers and the work they do, to signpost them to services and to help them to recognise themselves as carers.

“It’s the first time we’ve done this [had a stall in The Square], and we’re just trying to put it out there.

“We’ve had people coming in who’ll chat to us about their role as a carer and we let them know about the support they can get and about different groups.

“I shared some of my story, but it was really about allowing [other carers] to share their stories and have a chat, and we’re hoping to build on that by offering more support to carers in Tallaght.

“The biggest thing is that they feel they’re alone, but they’re not – they need to reach out and ask for help, because there is help out there.”

When reflecting on her own experience as a carer, Ms Tighe added that she gets great joy from seeing that Daniel is happy and content.

“It’s rewarding, in a funny way,” she explained, “when you see them smile and you know they’re happy, and you’re not thinking about illnesses and disabilities.

“It’s just you and them being happy at that moment in time.”

For more information on support and assistance for carers visit the carers week website HERE