Open from
3rd–17th October, 2025
in
The Marino Church, Bantry
The Voiceless
The palliatively ill say they often feel voiceless, marginalised, and invisible. They regularly express how they find themselves in a state of limbo, unable to return to the life they once lived before their terminal diagnosis. They describe their lived experience as being “neither here nor there,” not fully living, yet not quite dying. Despite being an integral part of every community, they, as a cohort, are seldom represented in our society, expressing the challenges of being terminally ill. We rarely hear from or about them.
A group of seven individuals, identifying with these experiences, gathered together in early 2024 at The Suaimhneas Palliative Day Care Centre in Tralee, Co Kerry where they all attended. Their aim was to raise awareness of what it is really like to live with palliative illness, to encourage open discourse on the subject and in doing so, leave a potent and powerful legacy, ‘a voice for the voiceless’.
They named their project Guthanna Idir an Dá Linn—Voices from in
Between. The choice reflected their unique position and the profound journey they shared, one that many of us will face (unless we die suddenly). Theirwords are honest, potent and urgent.
The Installation
Guthanna Idir An Dá Linn, is an emotive, intimate, potent and powerful
installation that allows an intimate glimpse into the lives of the participants. It is a testament to the lived experiences, wisdom, and passion of seven palliatively ill people. It embodies their desire to be a ‘voice for the voiceless’ and to speak for all mortal beings, including those on the palliative path now and in the future. Their goal was to create meaning during the precious, limited time before they died and leave a legacy that brings about change in how we communicate about palliative illness and dying. Their initiative is ambitious, unique and of immense importance and urgency.
With heart felt gratitude to this wonderful group of humans:
John Wren who died in March 2024.
Susan O Neill who died in March 2024.
Tim Smith who died in November 2024.
Margaret Walsh who died in January 2025.
Michael O Morain who died in February 2025.
Geraldine Drury who died in August 2025.
Catherine Healy is happy to still be engaging in life.
The installation opened in Siamsa Tíre Tralee in June 2024 and received
phenomenal feedback.
It will be staged again in The Marino Church, Bantry, opening on Friday
October 3rd and remaining in place until October 17th 2025. All are very
welcome to attend.
To read their stories click on the links below.
Geraldine
I'm Geraldine. I live with my husband in Ballyheigue. I have two grown up daughters. I worked very hard and planned for the perfect retirement and just as these plans were coming together, out of the blue, I got a breast cancer diagnosis straight to terminal stage 4 as the cancer had spread to my spine and other bones. I am struggling to accept I have no control over my cancer and when my end will come. I'm grieving for the life I am going to loose while at the same time trying everything I can to keep my body and mind health. I'm living with the dying and Tralee palliative care are supporting me on this nightmare journey that is my terminal illness. It means a lot and helps me cope.
Catherine
Catherine Connolly Healy. An enthusiastic, caring, entrepreneur with a BSc in Hotel and Catering Management from long ago. From Dublin, left there in 2002 for a better life on Valentia Island. Still in Kerry, I had to leave island life behind in 2022 when my neurologist told me that if I stayed there I'd die. Moved to Tralee of a Friday, had my first appointment in Palliative Care the next Monday. Surrendered my driving licence on that Tuesday. Welcome to the town of the Roses! I am so flat now. My brain won't do hurry, express myself or keyboards. I know all the answers but sadly they won't come. This is the best way I can answer right now. ........ I’ve lost the person that used to be me Don't know when she left I've got brain fog you see That makes things quite difficult I can't understand Things that were easy before now get out of hand Can't make sense of things Can't lift the right foot All my nerves now sting me Left leg goes kaa-putt My bladder, my plumbing, my stomach and all They don't answer Mother Nature when she makes a call I just don't feel like me But who was me I ask Ya see MSA causes facial muscles to induce a mask So family and friends don't recognise the me that is now I'm lost for ever My brain is melting Am I a mad cow? Don't ask me a question My mouth may not reply My brain knows the answer But has gone on stand-by I cannot do the things that made me ME The thoughts, the aspirations, the movements and see.. When the control centre is broken Not communicating as it should Nothing, NOTHING WORKS like I wish it would ...... I VALUE family and friends. They are my cornerstones, my rock. Kindness, sincerity, empathy and honesty in others make my world better. Acceptance has helped me thru the roughest, saddest times. Selfishness makes me crazy. I GOT INVOLVED IN THIS to let healthy, able-bodied people know what they've got and what I have not... there’s a very fine balance there. To educate folks on the importance of looking after their health… (mental too) ...not to park on the footpath, to please open the door 'cos I can't. Smile as you pass me. As I trundle along in my wheelchair on broken, uneven pathways, I'm at your waist level, a bit lower down than you, but not invisible. Please see me. My LEGACY: Always, I have bored my brothers, sister, nephews, nieces, family, friends and any one who would listen...I've even knitted it..always allow LOVE and LIGHT in your life. I plan on leaving all my love here when I go. I'm also planning on leaving the light on to banish the darkness that exists around brain disease.
Margaret
I'm a 52 year old palliative care patient. I'm single, have no dependants, and live by the sea with my dog. I've been in Palliative Care since December 2023. My cancer is metastatic breast cancer in my bones. I've stopped taking my treatment because it wasn't working and had awful side effects. My cancer was still spreading and the treatment made me feel sick. So far, I'm outliving my prognosis.
Life before my diagnosis:
I was enjoying city life, where I worked hard during the week and socialised at the weekend. I had a responsible job which I loved, until it took over my life. The workload and stress became too much for me. I was burnt out and becoming dependent on alcohol. So I changed to an easier job and that's when the cancer was found. I'd been feeling exhausted for some time but put it down to other reasons. Once the tumour was surgically removed, and my energy levels bounced back, I realised that the cancer must have been there for some time. It explained my fatigue.
What's been important in my life:
My family, friends, career, my dogs, reading, music, nature and the environment.
Why I'm involved in this:
I should feel lucky to be alive but I don't. I'm 'not actively living and not actively dying', I'm just surviving. Stuck in limbo. I can't work anymore as I suffer from memory loss. My mobility is compromised due to pain, and lack of strength and energy. My appearance has totally changed as a result of my treatment. I hate it. I feel purposeless, old, ugly and a burden on people. I'm not afraid of death as I believe in the afterlife. I'm ready to go.
What I hope my legacy will be:
I learned loads during my cancer experience and have tried to pass that information onto my family and friends. A lot of decisions had to be made, but one that I'll never regret was stopping my treatment. It gave me back some quality of life. My head cleared, I stopped feeling nauseous, I felt more like 'myself'. I have fewer scans, tests and medical appointments, so my life doesn't revolve as much around my condition. I believe that cancer can not just be prevented, but reversed, through correct diet and lifestyle choices. It's too late for me but I hope that Oncology incorporates Nutrition and Exercise into their procedures in future.
Tim
Diagnosed with cancer whilst holding my 6 week old girl, Pippa. Hearing the words "lung cancer" at aged 41. Immediate I jumped to my own defense, “it can't be”…I’ve stopped and given up everything, it can't be doctor ... I have a young family there's just no way... !?" It was here and here to stay. I had no choice but to get up and go. Stage 2 lobectomy and my lung removed to stage 4. Brain mets within a month. Straight into brain surgery, chemo, radiotherapies and even a second brain surgery to keep attacking those reoccurring tumours in my brain. After refusing the word ‘palliative care’ I refused all the team and help. How wrong was I. Being this sick I thought palliative care was just filling me up with pills and let me die quietly or at least some bit peacefully… Ha ha how wrong was I? The team have been such a massive part of our life and struggles. Both good and bad. I come into palliative drinking fresh coffee and scones. When I'm there it's all about how are the girls and how is Karen ? Then we get to the medical part. This helps me endlessly as the outside world can be so gruelling at times. "Just stay positive" or we are all gonna die anyway!" things like my dad had cancer and he did 10years - these comments although are meant from a good place really have my heart sinking and they can cut like a knife. If I don't choke on a cabbage leaf or get hit by that bus this cancer will kill me. I do have a good answer back to these thoughts and my answer back is always the same. I wish I could go back and really live my life like that, really keeping it in the day full of gratitude and be positive as much as possible. Sadly I don't have that luxury to go back. All I really have is today. Deep down I wanted so so much more for my girls. I wanted to provide more in every way possible. One of the hardest things for me as a parent to come to terms with is ‘are they gonna be ok?’ and ‘have done enough?’. Everything changed over night. No symptoms no medical markers. Only a test that went bad to worse in a year. When this project was announced I jumped at the chance to have a voice and maybe help even someone hear a different side to the word cancer. Sadly I have been in surgery again and more treatments which have taken me away. I see so much love and light around cancer now, I really understand it in a different light. I learnt from another palliative patient and it stuck with me to never ever take my eye off my own disease. It's clever and will always try and find a way around - Never stop.
Micheál
Micheál Ó Móráin. Thug Micheál 6 bliana ag múineadh i mBAC nuair a cháiligh sé agus an chuid eile dá shaol múinteoireachta i Lios Póil. Bhí ana shuim aige i leanaí agus daoine fásta le riachtanaisí speisialta agus chaith sé 15 bliana ag cabhrú le Pobal Camphill i nDún Sion. Tréimhsí fada ag traenáil agus i mbun foirne faoí aois agus mar roghnóir ar fhóirne caide na Gaeltachta. Tá sé mar Rúnaí ar Comharchumann Uan Chiarrai i Lios Póil ó bunaíodh é i 1974.Bhí sé mar oifigeach i Chumann Múinteoirí Éireann ar feadh tréimhse fada. Feirmeoir caorach agus stoic ab ea é go n'eirigh sé as. Bhreá leis dul amach ina bháidín ag iascach pé seans a gheibheadh sé. Bhí comharsain mhaith riamh aige agus é buioch dóibh ar fad. Tá sé buioch d'á bheancéile Joan, Micheál, Cristína, Brian, Aeilín, Léan, Mark, Liam, Catherine agus a gharchlann Cian, Seán, Tadhg, Éabha agus Fiadh as an aire atá sé ag fáil.
John
John Wren was born on the 12th of November 1954 in Ballymackessy, Ballylongford. He was born to Mary and Patrick Wren, the second of five children. He attended Ballylongford National School, St. Michael’s Secondary School and then went to Marino in Dublin, where he trained as a primary school teacher. John taught in many places until he settled in Patrickswell National School, where he taught for 21 years. He then became principal of Asdee National School in 2001. Throughout his time as a teacher, he kept the farm at home where he milked cows morning and evening, getting up each morning at 5am to milk before hitting the road for Patrickswell at 8am! He married his best friend, Aileen Hanrahan, in July 1985 and they went on to have three children, Denise, Eoin and Emily. He was very proud of his family and even though he was a busy farmer and teacher, was always seen supporting his children at various sporting and music events. He was a very proud grandfather to Ultan, Iarlaith, Eimear and Rían. He loved playing and having fun with them when they visited or he was called upon to babysit. Upon his retirement in 2014, he learned to swim, jive, sang in the Ballylongford folk group, was also a member of the first responders and community alert. He enjoyed travelling on many different city breaks and to visit his son in Wisconsin. He loved growing vegetables in his polytunnel and tipping around at home, keeping the place so well. He enjoyed his neighbours and friends calling, and roars of laughter could often be heard coming from the kitchen over a cup of tea and Aileen’s cakes and treats! John was a gentleman, kind, had a great wit and a gentle disposition. He is greatly missed by all who knew him. John’s illness was short. He was so lucky with the care and support he received in the suaimhneas centre in UHK. On Saturday, the 2nd of March, Trish came to our home to talk to John about this project. John put on his best clothes and sat up in the sitting room to contribute to this beautiful instillation. We are so grateful and proud that his memory lives on.
Susan
Susan would have been 46 years old on June 11th. From a young age she was a diligent person with her studies, work and home life. Susan had one sister and three brothers. She came fourth of the children in the family. She travelled around Europe during college and her travels took her to the USA, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and other destinations. She loved clothes shopping, she loved dressing up for special occasions, baking and cooking for friends and family, being outdoors, the sun and reading books, she liked biographies. Susan got married on 10.10.2015. She had met Diarmuid a year & a half before that. He's a dairy farmer and she used to say that she'd never marry a farmer, because they get so obsessed with the cows and the land, talking about the land, spend a lot of time outside. Susan loved her son Sean, born in December 2018 and was very excited on becoming a mother again. June 9th 2023, when 8 months pregnant, she discovered a left breast lump. Ella, her daughter was born July 3rd and Susan began her chemotherapy early August 2023. She was always very healthy, never off work sick and ran a lot in recent times. Unfortunately she was stage 4 at diagnosis. For the first 7 weeks, she had chemotherapy weekly and was feeling good. Things began to deteriorate quickly and unfortunately the cancer didn't respond to the chemotherapy and it kept spreading. Last September she was unwell with hepatitis as a result of the immunotherapy and in October she was becoming very tired and disheartened, she was devastated when it spread to her brain by December. On January 29th, Susan was admitted to the palliative unit and sadly passed away on March 17th. She was witty, had a dry sense of humour and very interested in meeting new people. She took an interested in people and always remembered them, even years later. Susan was always very energetic and enthusiastic. Always planning her next move, where she was going. She loved working around the house, forging ahead with planning the building of a shed, decorating the sitting room and painting the outside of the house. She always had a plan and something that needed doing. She was always very kind and willing to help people with whatever she could, seeing the best in people. On holidays when people watching, she loved surmising what people did for a living, humorously guessing when couples were arguing as to what it might be about. Susan was calm and it would take a lot to really frustrate and anger her. She would internalise stuff and keep it churning in her head as she wouldn't like to 'annoying anyone’.
“What happens when we remove discourse on terminal illness and dying from our lives? It doesn’t make death go away AND neither does it make it happen quicker. Without open communication and dialogue we further isolate a cohort of people who already express that they feel unheard. This silence, resistance to talk, gags them of their insights gained from the challenges of being on the path of palliative illness. It also deprives us all of that wisdom. If we continue to forget how to communicate about our mortality, there will be no one to truly meet us, hear us, engage deeply with us, to witness us when it comes to our turn to be terminally ill and dying. This installation is an opening into creating a new template, a new paradigm in communication about terminal illness and dying. Please engage with it, allow yourself to feel uncomfortable, to be rattled and let us all then begin a new dialogue”
Tricia Healy
Artist, Clinical Psychotherapist, Curator of Guthanna Idir an Dá Linn.
Curator - Tricia Healy
Tricia Healy is an accomplished visual artist who has been exhibiting successfully both in solo and group shows since 2003. She was a founding member of the artist co-operative The Blue Umbrella Gallery in Listowel, which was a hugely successful venture, selling art at a price that was fair to both the buyer and the artist 2002-2007. While there she mentored and co curated the first Children’s Art Exhibition in Kerry. She has worked with marginalised groups on Creative Expression with Listowel KDYS 1996-1998, with groups on communal art works, including a novel group of early school leavers in KDYS Killarney combined with young adults with disability from An Breanán Services, to co-create a large mosaic for the lobby area of the building.( 2004). She worked as an art instructor with adults with disability in Kerry Parents and Friends for 8years and mentored and co-curated a public exhibition of their art work in Tralee in Reubens Restaurant. She has worked as a volunteer artist with people who are palliatively ill on a P/T basis since 2007 in The Suaimhneas Palliative Day Care Centre, Tralee and has co-cuarated two exhibitions of artwork in the centre.
Tricia is also a clinical psychotherapist who has specialised in end of life care for many years . She is an accomplished public speaker and the Tedx talk she gave in Tralee in October 2022 has garnered over 40,000 views.
She has experienced first hand, the power and potency of the palliatively ill and has became acutely aware over the years of their struggles with feeling voiceless, marginalised and invisible. This installation is in response to this need. The seven people involved came up with the name Guthanna Idir an Dá Linn, Voices from Inbetween and created the concept. Tricia, supported by Áine Moriarty CNM of Suaimhneas Palliative Day Care, and the whole team, along with her close friends designed and installed the exhibition.
Tricia is contactable via email anewpath.69@gmail.com
on LinkedIn https://ie.linkedin.com/in/tricia-healy-640a7a2b.