COUNTY WICKLOW resident, Eugene Murray, found himself in the national spotlight last weekend when he accepted a People of the Year award on behalf of the Irish Hospice Foundation.

Eugene, who has lived in Greystones for the last 20 years, is the Chief Executive of the Hospice Foundation which was honoured at the star-studded ceremony in Citywest Hotel last weekend.

Organised by Rehab, and sponsored by Quinnhealthcare, the People of the Year Awards honour outstanding contributions made by individuals and organizations to life in Ireland. Presented by Grainne Seoige, Eugene received the award on behalf of the Irish Hospice Foundation from TV favourite Mary Kennedy.

The Hospice Foundastion was awarded with a People of the Year award for its support and commitment to the development of a comprehensive hospice/palliative care service in Ireland and for its vision for the future care of all people facing the end of life.

Just some of the innovative programmes in which the Foundation is active today include the Hospicefriendly Hospitals Programme, the Children's Palliative Care Programme for children with lifelimiting illnesses in the community, and the Extending Access Programme for patients with conditions other than cancer.

As the spotlight was put on the Foundation during the Live ceremony, there was also video tape footage of members of the Wicklow Hospice Foundation, who are currently actively trying to get a 12 bed hospice set up in south Wicklow for people living in the area.

'There is no inpatient service for people in the Southern part of county Wicklow and we are working towards that. We've already had a commitment from the HSE,' said Eugene this week.

He added that receiving a People of the Year award for the Irish Hospice Foundation was an honour and 'helped to keep hospice care on the top of the agenda' .

- Anne Marie O'CONNOR