Awards for Mohill Breastfeeding Group

Mohill Friends of Breastfeeding and Ciara Turbett came home winners from the annual Friends of Breastfeeding Awards held in Dunboyne Castle Hotel on the April 22.

Mohill Friends of Breastfeeding won the Mum2Mum Group of the Year award and Ciara was awarded PHN of the Year.
The shortlists were determined through nominations from the pubic and then the five judges had the difficult job of pouring though the nominations and submissions from the nominees to decide the winners.

It is no wonder Ciara took home the award for PHN of the year with nominations speaking about her “gentle, empowering approach to mums on their breastfeeding journey” and how” she can see mothers who are struggling and will spend extra time with them and reach out to provide support outside of the group”.

One mother said of Ciara “I would not have breastfed for a week, never mind this long without her support”. Ciara would like to thank everyone who took the time to nominate her for this award and all her colleagues and managers in Roscommon especially the PHN’s and RGN’s in Strokestown who work with her to help support and normalise breastfeeding in Roscommon with Ciara saying “thank you to all my family and friends who put up with my passion and encourage me all the time. I wouldn’t have all the time to commit to breastfeeding causes if it wasn’t for a great family and husband to help with all the work involved with raising three little ones, I wouldn’t be able to provide the support I can for breastfeeding parents”.

Members of the Mohill Breastfeeding group pictured in Mohill Library on Wednesday, May 3. Back row, from left - Aisling Logan-Heaney and her daughter Ceoladh; Maureen Lynch, Marcel and Heidi McMahon; Sarah and Harry Fitzpatrick; Grainne Bohan and her grandson, Senan Turbett; Edel and Lydia Brogan; Ciara Turbett, PHN Lactation Consultant; Lisa Duignan and her baby Erin Cox. Seated, from left - Sarah and Cait Farrell; Kate, Celine and Andy Scollan; Pauline and Seamie O'Donnell; Kathy and Eabha Mulvey; Sinead and Jack Casey; Tracey and Evan Pipars; Maeve, Paidi and Joe Reynolds. Front - Oisin and Darragh Farrell Picture by Willie Donnellan

“I truly am honoured and privileged to accept this award and will keep flying the flag for breastfeeding and strive to instill confidence in all parents I meet and keep on normalising and encouraging all things breastfeeding”.

Mohill’s Mum2Mum group also received glowing praise from those nominating the group.

One submission spoke of how the group “allows women to know they are not alone, and it is a safe space to ask questions and get advice no matter what stage they are at in their breastfeeding journey” with another describing the group as “a super group full of knowledgeable, friendly, supportive new friends”.

Mohill Friends of Breastfeeding attribute their success to their wonderful members and all those who have provided support to them since Ciara established the group in November 2021.

Ciara and Aisling, who together to coordinate the groups meetings and events, speak gratefully of the mothers who attend their meetings, saying “a huge thank you to all of the amazing mammies that come to Mohill Friends of Breastfeeding meetings, engage with us on Instagram and Facebook, and contribute to our WhatsApp group.

“This award is for Mum2Mum group of the year, and without them there is no group. It is truly a privilege to support these wonderful mothers and their babies on their breastfeeding journeys. We recognise that we are in a very fortunate position to have been able to meet all of the beautiful babies who have come to the group at only a few weeks old and watch them grow into playful toddlers.

“We are even more privileged to meet new mothers who come to the group and gain confidence and resilience in their breastfeeding journeys, and if we can help or support even one mother to continue or lengthen her journey our group is a success.

“The importance peer support can often be overlooked but it plays such a vital role in helping breastfeeding mothers gain confidence and creates a safe space to ask questions and learn this amazing new skill”.

They also recognised the support that has come from many avenues and allowed them to grow the group from strength to strength.

“Firstly, we would like to say thank you and a massive well done to all at Friends of Breastfeeding, Sinead and Edel have made setting up the and running of the group so easy and are always so helpful with any queries and the Awards event was a wonderful celebration of everything breastfeeding.

“We are so grateful to all of our family and friends who have encouraged our passion to support and normalise breastfeeding by setting up the group in Mohill. This is the first breastfeeding group successfully set up and continued in Mohill and although our town is small we have had such wonderful engagement - some of our members have come from as far as North Leitrim, Cavan and Longford so our impact has reached much further afield than our own locality in south Leitrim.

“We had many challenges at the start getting established but would like to focus on all the positives and thank all who have made the group what it is today.

“We were extremely fortunate with all of the great locations that have hosted us. Our first meetings were held in Mohill Family Resource Centre masked up and vaccination certs in hand because Covid restrictions were still in place.

"Our next location was a great spot for the full Irish, Bellz’s café, Main Street Mohill, and lots of tired mammys took full advantage of the yummy treats and great coffee!

"We were so lucky to then land a spot in the newly refurbished Mohill Library with its beautiful sensory room, and child friendly facilities. Kim and Emer have been amazing and made running the group so easy.

“We would like to thank anyone who contributed in any way to our meetings and various events we have run, like Cherry Tree Pastry who baked up lovely boobie themed buns and cakes, Sarah Fitzpatrick who helped with setting up the group and applying for various funding opportunities, and offers her help and support for everything we do, and Ciara’s mum Grainne who is always there to offer a helping hand at events.

“We also appreciate Health Promotion in Sligo/ Leitrim for helping to promote the group and include us on posters of the Breastfeeding support groups in the region”.

Mohill FoBF meet every first and third Wednesday from 10am-12pm in Mohill Library and the last Saturday of each month except bank holidays.

The group are planning to run breastfeeding specific antenatal information evenings soon so anyone interested can follow the group on their social media accounts, where you can also keep up to date with meetings and events.

Facebook Mohill Friends of Breastfeeding Group and Instagram mohill_friendsofbreastfeeding