TEXT HUGH TO 50300 TO DONATE €4.00
Text costs €4.00. Hugh’s House will receive a minimum of €3.40. Service Provider Fundraising Solutions. Helpline 012022810
Our Staff
​At Hugh’s House, our strength lies in our people. Behind every family we support is a dedicated team of compassionate staff, volunteers, and board members who work tirelessly to make a difference. Each person plays a vital role in creating a welcoming, safe, and supportive home for families whose children are receiving medical care in Dublin hospitals. Together, we share a common goal — to ensure that no family faces their child’s hospital journey alone.
Robbie Donnelly
Fundraising and Marketing Administrator
Robbie Donnelly is the Fundraising and Marketing Administrator at Hugh’s House, where he brings creativity, energy, and a deep passion for helping families in need. With a strong background in communications and a personal commitment to making a difference, Robbie plays a key role in raising vital funds and increasing awareness of the charity’s mission. He manages campaigns, events, social media, and donor engagement with care and professionalism, always ensuring the voice of Hugh’s House is authentic and heartfelt. Robbie’s work helps keep the house running and families supported, and his enthusiasm and dedication make him a valued member of the team and a driving force behind its success.
Joanne Cooney
Hugh's House Manager
Joanne Cooney is the dedicated Manager of Hugh’s House, bringing warmth, compassion, and exceptional organisational skills to her role. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by families with seriously ill children, Joanne ensures that every family who walks through the door is welcomed with kindness and support. She oversees the day-to-day running of the house, coordinates with hospitals and volunteers, and works tirelessly to maintain a calm, homely environment. Joanne’s commitment to making Hugh’s House a place of comfort and care is at the heart of everything she does, and her presence is cherished by all who stay.
Ashley Mangan
Hugh's House Housekeeper
Ashley Mangan is the devoted Housekeeper at Hugh’s House, where her attention to detail and warm personality help create a clean, safe, and comforting environment for families. Ashley takes great pride in ensuring every room feels like a home away from home, understanding how important a calm and welcoming space is during difficult times. She approaches her work with compassion, always ready with a smile or a kind word for families going through challenging journeys. Ashley’s dedication and care are deeply valued by both the team and the families, making her an essential and much-loved part of Hugh’s House.
Our Families, and their stories
Over the years, many families have passed through the doors of Hugh’s House, each with their own unique journey, challenges, and hopes. Their stories are at the heart of everything we do, stories of love, resilience, and gratitude that remind us why Hugh’s House exists. In the following pages, you’ll meet some of the incredible families who have stayed with us, sharing their experiences of finding comfort, support, and a sense of home during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
Tanya's Story
When our son SJ was born in June 2016 at just 27 weeks, our world turned upside down. He came into this world far too soon and faced challenges no baby should ever have to face, two bleeds on the brain, a hole in his heart, and a pulmonary haemorrhage.
Those first few days and weeks were full of fear and uncertainty. We were in Dublin, far from home, clinging to hope and trying to stay strong for our tiny fighter. It was during this time we were introduced to Hugh’s House. The hospital social worker reached out to Ade, the founder of Hugh’s House, who had created this incredible haven in memory of her little boy, Hugh. The night I was discharged from hospital, we went straight to Hugh's House, and that’s where our healing began.
From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warmth and compassion. Each family had their own room, and there was a communal kitchen where everyone came together at the end of long, emotional days at the hospital. It quickly became a place of connection and comfort. We met other parents also living through difficult times, families whose children were battling illnesses in various Dublin hospitals. We formed deep friendships with three of those families in particular. We’d spend our days by our children’s bedsides and in the evenings gather in the kitchen, sharing meals, stories, and moments of hope. It was a bond like no other; we often say we became part of the Hugh's House family. The kindness within those walls was endless. Volunteers came in to cook meals for everyone staying there, filling the house with the smell of real food and the feeling of care.
There were times we’d receive donations of brand-new toys, baby clothes, and thoughtful gifts, small gestures that meant the world during such a difficult time. We stayed in Hugh’s House for about three months, and I can honestly say we couldn’t have managed without it. There’s no way we could have afforded to stay in Dublin that long. Hugh's House never asked us for anything, no fees, no expectations, just kindness and understanding. It truly was a home away from home when we needed it most.
What Ade has created is extraordinary. Out of her own heartbreak, she built a place that brings light and love to families walking through their darkest moments. We think of Ade often, and of all the wonderful people we met there, our Hugh's House family who shared that time with us. We’ve been proud to raise funds for Hugh's House since our stay, as it will always hold a very special place in our hearts. The difference it made to our family is beyond words. Hugh's House gave us a safe place to rest, to connect, and to breathe. It gave us strength when everything felt impossible.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, Ade, and everyone who supports Hugh's House. Your kindness and generosity have touched countless families, ours included, and we will never forget the love and care we found within those walls.
Sabrina's Story
My name is Sabrina Gallagher, and I will be forever grateful to Hugh’s House for the care and support I received during the hardest time of my life.
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My daughter’s journey began on the 20th of July, 2016. My beautiful baby girl, Madelyne, arrived far too early, born at just 29 weeks in Letterkenny General Hospital. She was so tiny, so fragile, and so very sick. Madeline had to be transferred to Holles Street Hospital in Dublin for specialist care, and I was also admitted there for a week after her birth. When I was discharged, I suddenly realised I had nowhere to go. I didn’t know Dublin, and I didn’t know where I could stay to be close to my baby.
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That’s when a small act of kindness changed everything. My sister had a friend who mentioned Hugh’s House, a place I’d never heard of before. After a few phone calls, I was told there was a room waiting for me. From that moment on, Hugh’s House became my safe haven. Walking through the doors for the first time, I was greeted with warmth, compassion, and genuine care. The people who welcomed me are now people I call friends. My room was spotless and cosy, and for the first time in days, I could breathe.
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Hugh’s House lifted a huge weight off my shoulders, they gave me a comfortable bed, home-cooked meals, and a safe, peaceful place to rest. Most importantly, they gave me the chance to focus all of my energy on Madelyne’s health and recovery. The love and kindness shown to me during that time will stay with me forever. Hugh’s House didn’t just give me a place to stay, they gave me strength, comfort, and hope when I needed it most.
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Thank you, Hugh’s House. Without you, my story would have been very different.
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Susan's Story
Our son was born in CUH, but due to breathing difficulties, he needed to be transferred to Temple Street. Not knowing anyone in Dublin, we had no idea where we would stay. The night before we left, a nurse mentioned a place called Hugh’s House that might offer accommodation.
I rang immediately and spoke to a woman named Ade. She listened intently to our story and assured me that as long as our son was in hospital, we would have a place to stay. At the time, we had no idea we’d be in Dublin for three months.
The next day, while following the ambulance to Temple Street, Ade called and told us to head straight to Hugh’s House afterwards, where we’d be welcomed by Robbie. When we arrived, Robbie greeted us warmly and offered us a cup of tea. He showed us around the kitchen, pointed out the fully stocked freezers, and told us to make ourselves at home. I remember crying from the kindness and comfort he offered, it was unforgettable. Robbie was also staying there, as his son Henry was in hospital too.
We met Ade the following afternoon. She shared the story behind Hugh’s House, which she founded in honour of her son Hugh. When Hugh was in hospital, Ade saw how difficult it was for families from outside Dublin to stay close to their children due to the cost. She decided to create a home for those families—this is the heart and mission of Hugh’s House.
I truly don’t know how I would have coped during those months without Hugh’s House. It wasn’t just a place to stay; it became our home and our family. Everyone there was carrying their own burden, but in the evenings, it was a place of peace and support. I will be forever grateful. Our evening chats in the kitchen became a source of comfort and friendship.