LOOKING AFTER EACH OTHER: Dermot and Rita Moriarty with Rita’s sister Roseanne O’Connor from Tiernaboul, Marie Lenihan (KPFA), and Denis Kerins from Gneeveguilla pictured earlier this year. The Moriarty family have praised the support they have received from KPFA in this difficult time Photo: Grigoriy Geniyevskiy

By Sean Moriarty

A Killarney woman, who is the full-time carer for her special needs sister, says moves that would see full-time carers and family members being made a priority for COVID-19 testing, would be welcome.

Rita Moriarty, wife of local broadcasting legend Dermot, has been the full-time carer of her sister Roseanne O’Connor since their mother died in 2001.

Roseanne attended the Kerry Parents and Friends Day Care Centre in Killarney every day, but that has now been closed due to Coronavirus restrictions.

“I would agree as Roseanne is high-risk,” Rita told the Killarney Advertiser. “We are lucky, we live in the country and have a big garden but there are other families who have special needs and they could live in an apartment block and how are they coping and what if something happens to them? I am taking every precaution, I would not let my brother into the house on the day of Roseanne’s birthday in March.

Like many other families, the Moriarty family is now facing new challenges.

KPFA care for 270 special needs patients across Kerry – 115 of them based in the greater Killarney area.

Like all other schools and similar establishments in the country, the facility was forced to close on March 13.

“During these unprecedented weeks as a family having to care for someone with an intellectual disability at home is difficult. Roseanne attends the Kerry Parents and Friends in Killarney, 'The Mon' as she calls it, from Monday to Friday and refers to it as 'going to work'. She has made lifelong friends there and she is mad about the staff who look after her so well,” Rita said.

Rita and Dermot were forced to reorganise their day around Roseanne’s needs and while they are lucky to have a big back garden for walks and other physical exercises, Dermot’s record collection offers another escape.

“While these activities are great for her and a distraction for a short while, Roseanne has a short attention span, she is getting bored and really misses 'The Mon', her friends and carers, and keeps asking for them,” added Rita. “The staff from the Kerry Parents and Friends have been very supportive and keep in touch each week to see how we are coping for which we thank them sincerely and hope they are well and keeping safe.”