Aaron's Legacy

When a loved one is seriously ill in hospital, the phyiscal, mental and emotional strain on the family is considerable. However, there are facilities available to make that traumatic ordeal a little more manageable. In the case of Marguerite Kiely, the availability of accommodation at An Bró Columbanus meant that she and her husband could be near their son Aaron while he was undergoing treatment at Cork University Hospital. An Bró (meaning hostel) is a home from home established by the Order of the Knights of Columbanus and maintained by a team of volunteers. The family of patients at Cork hospitals can take rest and comfort in a safe, warm and caring environment. In Aarons Legacy, Marguerite now pays homage to An Bró for the refuge and comfort it afforded her and her husband in their time of loss. Charting the development of An Bró and highlighting the fact that this is the only hostel of its kind in Ireland, Marguerite Kiely issues a rallying call for more such centres. In doing so, she not only pays homage to An Bró Columbanus, but to the memory of Aaron.