It’s going to be a marathon Christmas for Irene Flynn, staff nurse at Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe.

Because as well as working on Christmas Eve and a twelve-hour shift on St Clare’s Ward on Christmas Day, the mother-of-one is planning to run the 10km Fields of Athenry road race on St Stephen’s Day with her daughter, Amy Coyne (21).

Irene, a nurse with twenty years’ experience, wouldn’t have it any other way . . . and she’s looking forward to punching in a long shift, from 7.45am to 8.30pm on December 25.

“Any Christmas I’ve worked has been lovely; there’s a great atmosphere, and it’s very rewarding. I have great memories of any Christmas I’ve worked. We don’t focus on ourselves; it’s all about the patients. We’re there for them, and we try and make it a special day for them,” she said.

Christmas arrangements for nurses at Portiuncula and GUH (Merlin Park and UHG) differ depending on what wards they work. But those who work at Christmas get time off at New Year’s, and, in St Clare’s, nurses work every second Christmas.

Irene said staff with young families, and special requests for time off, are accommodated at Christmas if possible.

“Everyone works together and works around it,” she said.

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