Galway Hospice

What Galway Hospice does

Galway Hospice Foundation is an Irish registered charity (CHY8837, RCN 20022150) and Section 38 public body that delivers specialist palliative care services free of charge to patients with advanced life-limiting illnesses and their families across Galway and Mayo. Core clinical services include a 24/7 Inpatient Unit at the Dublin Road, Renmore headquarters, a Community Palliative Care team supporting home-based care, Day Care, Medical Social Work, and a Bereavement Support programme encompassing one-to-one counselling, group programmes, and a Bereavement Café. The organisation is accredited by CHKS (Insight for Better Healthcare) and holds UKAS Quality Management certification (083), and reported serving over 1,600 patients and families annually, with involvement in 78% of Galway deaths from malignant diagnoses.

The underlying platform combines multidisciplinary clinical delivery (medical, nursing, complementary therapy, psychosocial) with complementary revenue-generating infrastructure. The technology stack supporting fundraising and retail comprises a WordPress/WooCommerce online shop, with Stripe and SumUp payment integrations. Notable proprietary offerings include the HEARTS Process Training — a two-day complementary therapy programme co-developed with Dr Peter Mackereth of the UK and priced at €250 per participant — and a four-day Massage and Touch Techniques course at €550. E-commerce products include calendars, handmade Irish jewellery, tote bags, trolley tokens, original paintings, wedding favour cards, and a bilingual nature walks guidebook.

The business model is a hybrid charity/earned-revenue construct. Patient services are provided free, while the operating budget is funded through diversified streams: one-time and recurring donations, legacy giving, the Weekly Draw lottery subscription (€66.04 annually, operating since 1987), corporate partnerships, annual community events (Sunflower Days, Memorial Walk, Croagh Patrick Climb, Coffee Morning, Christmas Jumper Day, Car Raffle), training course fees, and online merchandise sales. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by more than 500 active volunteers, and the organisation is governed independently with CEO Mary Nash at the helm.

Name

Galway Hospice

Legal name

Galway Hospice Foundation

Website

https://galwayhospice.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Galway Hospice Foundation is an Irish registered charity providing free specialist palliative care — inpatient, community, day care, and bereavement services — to patients with life-limiting illnesses across Galway and Mayo, funded through donations, a Weekly Draw lottery, training courses, and community fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospice and Palliative Care Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Hospice / Hospice House (Facility-Based) (HLADAHAC), Non-Hospice Serious-Illness / Community-Based Palliative Care (In-Home) (HSABAFAF), Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL)

Keywords

• Specialist palliative care
• Hospice care services
• Bereavement support
• Community palliative care
• Palliative care training

Headquarters

HQ city

Galway

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: One-time and recurring donations from individuals, community fundraising events, corporate fundraising, in-memory donations, and legacy giving through wills.
2. Weekly Draw Lottery: Annual subscription-based lottery offering weekly prizes of €1,000 and €100. Costs €1.27 per week (€66.04 annually). Operating since 1987.
3. Online Shop: E-commerce sales including merchandise (trolley tokens, calendars, tote bags, jewellery, paintings), training courses, concert tickets, and wedding favour cards.
4. Education and Training: Revenue from professional training programs including HEARTS Process Training (€250) and Massage and Touch Techniques for Cancer and Supportive Care course (€550).
5. Healthcare Assistant Pilot Service: New community-based service providing additional practical and emotional support to patients receiving specialist palliative care at home.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Galway Hospice Foundation provides specialist palliative care services free of charge to patients with advanced life-limiting illnesses and their families across Galway and Mayo, delivered through an Inpatient Unit, a Community Palliative Care home-visit team, Day Care, Bereavement Support, and Medical Social Work. The charity is funded by donations, community fundraising events, a long-running Weekly Draw lottery, an online shop selling merchandise and event tickets, corporate partnerships, and paid professional training courses in complementary and supportive care.

Product overview

Galway Hospice is a specialist palliative care charity offering a comprehensive suite of healthcare services and retail products. Core clinical services include Inpatient Care, Community Palliative Care, Day Care, Bereavement Support, Medical Social Work, and Education & Research. The organisation operates an e-commerce shop (built on WooCommerce) selling fundraising products including the Weekly Draw subscription, calendars, merchandise (tote bags, trolley tokens), gift items (jewellery, paintings, guidebooks), event tickets, and professional training programmes (HEARTS Process Training, Massage and Touch Techniques Course). Fundraising activities include annual events such as Hospice Sunflower Days, Galway Memorial Walk, and Croagh Patrick Climb. Payment processing is handled via Stripe and SumUp.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Inpatient Care Specialist inpatient palliative care unit delivering 24/7 medical, nursing, and multidisciplinary support for patients with advanced life-limiting illnesses. Provided free of charge to patients and families in Galway and Mayo.
• Community Palliative Care Home-based specialist palliative care service supporting patients to remain in their preferred place of care, including home visits, medication management, and coordination with other healthcare providers. Provided free of charge.
• Day Care Outpatient day care service offering therapeutic activities, complementary therapies (art, music, aromatherapy, physiotherapy), and social support for patients attending from home. Provided free of charge.
• Bereavement Support Bereavement support service for families and loved ones following a death, including one-to-one counselling, group programmes, the Walk & Talk group, Bereavement Café, and Carers Connect service. Provided free of charge.
• Medical Social Work Social work service providing emotional support, practical assistance, and guidance for patients and families navigating palliative care.
• Community Healthcare Assistant Pilot Service New community-based Healthcare Assistant service providing additional practical and emotional support to patients receiving specialist palliative care at home, complementing existing community supports and operating outside normal workday hours (evenings, nights, weekends). Delivered by Amy Kybartaite.
• HEARTS Process Training Two-day in-person training programme on therapeutic touch, empathy, aromas, relaxation, textures, and sound for supportive and palliative care settings. Co-developed and delivered with Dr Peter Mackereth (UK), formerly of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester. Fee €250 per participant; includes two days of expert-led training, course materials, and certificate of attendance.
• Massage and Touch Techniques for Cancer and Supportive Care Course Four-day continuing education course for qualified Massage Therapists covering massage and touch techniques for cancer and supportive care settings. Fee €550 per participant; next offering 25–28 September 2026.
• Weekly Draw Annual subscription-based lottery running since 1987, offering weekly chances to win €1,000 (1st prize) or €100 (2nd prize) each week. Annual subscription €66.04 (€1.27 per week); 6-month gift voucher €33.02; monthly PayPal donation option €5.51.
• Hospice Sunflower Days Annual national fundraising campaign in its 36th year, featuring on-street collections selling sunflower pins and merchandise across Galway city and county. Includes the Sunflower Fun Day programme for schools. Raised €118,716.63 in 2026 with more than 500 volunteers.
• Galway Memorial Walk Annual memorial walk held in September along Salthill Prom, allowing participants to celebrate loved ones no longer with us. Personalised t-shirts featuring a loved one's name are available.
• Croagh Patrick Climb Annual fundraising mountain climb held in June at Croagh Patrick, Westport, Co. Mayo, including a memorial service at the summit. Sponsored by Revive Active.
• Galway Calendar 2026 Annual wall calendar featuring photographs of the Galway landscape. €10 per calendar, with 100% of proceeds going directly to Galway Hospice. Sponsored by Snap.
• Handmade Irish Jewellery Range of handmade Irish jewellery items including earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Prices range from €15 to €25; 100% of proceeds go directly to Galway Hospice.
• Lily Hughes Paintings Original oil paintings by Galway artist Lily Hughes, painted in her 80s. Prices range from €120 to €400, with all proceeds going to Galway Hospice in memory of loved ones.
• Wedding Favour Cards Wedding favour cards allowing couples to support Galway Hospice while thanking guests; cards read "Thank you for being part of our special day. In honour and appreciation of our guests, a contribution has been made to Galway Hospice Foundation." Starting from €20 for 20 cards, with quantity options up to 300.
• Galway Hospice Tote Bag Sustainable tote bag made from 100% recycled polyester, measuring 380mm x 420mm. Priced at €2; eco-friendly shopping option supporting a local cause.
• Sunflower Trolley Token Hospice Sunflower Days merchandise item featuring €2 and €1 token sizes. Priced at €3 per token; all proceeds go to Galway Hospice.
• Treoirleabhar Siúlóidí Dúlra Ghaillimh S'Againne / Our Galway Nature Walks Guidebook Bilingual (Irish and English) walking guidebook authored by Joe & Patrick McGinley. Proceeds to Galway Hospice.
• Welsh Choir Concert Tickets (Meibion Goronwy) Tickets for Welsh Choir (Meibion Goronwy) concerts supporting Galway Hospice. €15 per ticket; 50% of proceeds donated to the hospice.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported over 1,600 patients and families annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dr Peter Mackereth (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2026Internationally recognized nurse, educator, researcher and author who co-developed and delivers the HEARTS Process Training with Galway Hospice. Co-authored the landmark book 'Combining Touch and Relaxation Skills for Cancer Care: The HEARTS Process'.
• The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, ManchesterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2026Where Dr Peter Mackereth spent over 15 years leading the Complementary Health and Wellbeing Team. Partnered with Galway Hospice for HEARTS Process training program.
• Revive ActiveminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 June 2026Proud supporter of the Croagh Patrick Climb for Galway Hospice. Provides sponsorship for the annual fundraising climb.
• Intact Insurance, Zimmer Biomet, Ribbon Communications, MedtronicminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2026Corporate volunteer teams from these companies participated in Hospice Sunflower Days 2026, providing volunteer support for on-street collections.
• Galway ChamberminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2026Galway Chamber supported the Sunflower Days 2026 campaign as a community partner.
• Keller Travel, BallinasloeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 April 2026Corporate sponsor that kindly donated a family holiday to France as the 2nd prize in the 2026 Car Raffle.
• SnapminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2024Sponsor of the Galway Calendar 2026. 100% of calendar proceeds go to Galway Hospice.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services: Ireland's largest hospice provider operating inpatient palliative care, community services, and bereavement support across Dublin. Most directly comparable to Galway Hospice on clinical scope, charitable status, and service mix.
• Milford Care Centre: Limerick-based specialist palliative care provider with inpatient unit, community palliative care, and bereavement services. Direct peer in regional Irish hospice delivery and charitable fundraising model.
• North West Hospice: Sligo-based hospice serving the North West of Ireland, providing inpatient and community palliative care. Comparable as a smaller regional Irish hospice reliant on community fundraising.
• Marymount University Hospice: Specialist palliative care hospice in Cork providing inpatient, community, and bereavement services. Closely comparable as a regional Irish hospice with similar fundraising and community-driven operating model.
• St. Christopher's Hospice: London-based hospice and globally recognised pioneer of modern hospice care, providing inpatient, community, and bereavement services. Direct peer on specialist palliative care service delivery and education programmes.
• St. Francis Hospice: Dublin-based hospice providing specialist palliative care, community services, and bereavement support. Comparable in scope (inpatient unit + community team) and in operating multiple sites in Ireland.

Broad incumbents

• Sue Ryder: UK-wide charity operating hospices, neurological care, and bereavement support. Comparable on palliative and bereavement service lines but with a much larger footprint and broader portfolio than Galway Hospice.
• Marie Curie: Major UK charity providing end-of-life care through hospices and community nursing services. Comparable on hospice and home-based palliative care delivery at significantly greater scale.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: UK-wide cancer charity providing palliative care services alongside information, financial, and nursing support. Comparable on end-of-life cancer care focus but operates at a national scale rather than regional.

Others

• Irish Hospice Foundation: National charity supporting hospice and palliative care across Ireland through grants, advocacy, education, and the Design & Dignity programme. Ecosystem peer rather than direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/galwayhospice
• Facebookfacebook.com/GalwayHospice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/galway-hospice
• Instagraminstagram.com/galwayhospice

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Galway Hospice