Moylough woman is Galway’s Carer of the Year

A MOYLOUGH woman has been named as the Galway finalist in the 2026 Lidl Family Carer of the Year Awards.

Barbara Curran, also known as Bobbie, cares for her husband Tomás who is living with dementia. From morning through the night, she takes care of Tomás’ every need, helping him get through the day, preparing his meals, supporting his personal care and bringing him to appointments.

She manages all this alongside the day-to-day chores that help keep a home running. With only a small number of home help hours, Barbara has few opportunities to switch off and relax. She has health challenges of her own, but caring for her husband takes priority above all.

Even with such a busy schedule, Barbara still makes time for other people, helping them navigate their journey with their loved ones.

The annual awards celebrate the remarkable contribution of Ireland’s family carers, recognising the love, commitment and dedication of those who provide essential care and support to loved ones, often without acknowledgment.

Support Manager for Galway, Ronah Corcoran said each nomination for these awards provide a glimpse into the lives that most people never see.

“These awards give us the opportunity to bring those stories into he spotlight and recognise the remarkable people behind them.”

Ms Corcoran also emphasised that recognition needs to come with real support.

“Our research shows that three in four family carers have never had a break, a similar number are struggling financially, and almost half feel severely lonely. They deserve so much more,” she added.

For more information, visit: www.familycarers.ie.