Leitrim’s ‘breastfeeding champions’ in the running for national awards

Heroes of breastfeeding support in Ireland to be recognised at a gala awards ceremony in Dunboyne this weekend.

The Friends of Breastfeeding Awards will be presented to Ireland’s ‘breastfeeding champions’ at a gala lunch and awards ceremony on Saturday 22nd April 2023 in Dunboyne Castle Hotel.

The Friends of Breastfeeding Awards recognise excellence in breastfeeding promotion, advocacy, and support across both the professional and voluntary sectors on the island of Ireland.

Over 800 nominations were submitted from the public for passionate breastfeeding advocates; impactful breastfeeding initiatives; supportive breastfeeding friendly businesses; knowledgeable health care providers, lactation consultants, midwives and public health nurses; and dedicated volunteer breastfeeding supporters and support groups.

Leitrim has potential winners in three of the awards categories that will be handed out, and Carrick-on-Shannon woman Ciara Turbett appears to be the common denominator across them all.

Shortlisted for both Advocate of the Year and Midwife/PHN of the Year, Ciara is a RGN and midwife, a PHN, Community First Responder and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ciara realised the huge loss caused by the restrictions on in person peer support for breastfeeding mothers and wanted to take action to address it.

She set up a Friends of Breastfeeding Mum2Mum group and started to provide support to mothers via WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.

As soon as the pandemic restrictions lifted Ciara set about providing in person breastfeeding support in Leitrim three times a month, including one weekend meeting every month.

Ciara also organised an exhibition of breastfeeding photographs in Mohill Library during National Breastfeeding Week 2022. She is a mum of three and also volunteers with Breastival.

Nominations received by FoBF in support of Ciara spoke of her help and support given to numerous families in the course of her work, and of her commitment to supporting breastfeeding via her voluntary work with Breastival and with Friends of Breastfeeding.

One nomination described how Ciara “can see mothers who are struggling and will spend extra time with them and reach out to provide support outside the group. She has taught me so much about the importance of extended breastfeeding and helped me gain the confidence to feed in public.”

Another said that Ciara “provided such good support to me from birth to present. (13 months later) I would not have breastfeed for a week never mind this long without her support. I can't put into the words the support and advice she provides to so many breastfeeding mothers… I honestly feel the rates of breastfeeding would reduce massively in the area if it wasn't for Ciara!”

The Mohill Friends of Breastfeeding Mum2Mum Group is also in the running for the award of FoBF Mum2Mum Group of the Year at the awards.

Having formed during the pandemic, the group held its first in person meeting in November 2021. With group organisers Ciara and Aisling coordinating the meetings and events, the group has gone from strength to strength and now has attendees not just from Mohill but from all over North Leitrim, Cavan and Longford.

It also has a very active and popular WhatsApp group, and Instagram and facebook pages which it uses to advertise meetings and share breastfeeding and parenting related content and local events or opportunities.
The group meets twice a month midweek in Mohill library, and additionally once a month on a Saturday for those mums who have returned to work and are continuing to breastfeed.

The group has held Halloween parties, Christmas jumper parties, birthday celebrations and a number of “Golden Boobies/1st Birthday” celebrations, complete with Golden Boobie cakes and cupcakes. It has also had talks on CPR delivered by Ciara, which mothers have found very helpful when weaning their babies onto complimentary solid foods.

Mohill FoBF’s biggest highlight since the group started was its events for National Breastfeeding Week in October 2022 when it organised a family friendly party to exhibit a stunning display of breastfeeding photographs alongside some beautiful educational breastfeeding posters and information.

On the day the group decided to wear pink to highlight that breastfeeding reduces your chances of getting breast cancer as our event was held on the first day of Breast Cancer awareness month and many people aren’t aware of this amazing benefit to breastfeeding.

The exhibit was so popular that the library kept it on display for the rest of the month. The group have big plans for 2023 including applying for local grants to organise more events and celebrations, hosting antenatal breastfeeding classes for local parents-to-be, and liasing closely with Leitrim County Council’s Healthy Ireland Coordinator with the hopes of making Leitrim a Breastfeeding Friendly County.

Other shortlisted nominees for awards include consultant neonatologist Prof. Afif El-Khuffash; grassroots advocacy group Bainne Beatha; and sculptor Paddy Campbell and Bewley’s Cafe Grafton Street.

Chairperson of Friends of Breastfeeding, Ballina resident Edel Quirke, said that “the Friends of Breastfeeding Awards are a truly special and unique opportunity to celebrate all of the positive things happening in the breastfeeding promotion and support space in Ireland, and to recognise and reward all of the many unsung individuals, businesses and groups going above and beyond to ensure breastfeeding is valued, welcomed, and supported.”

The MC for the FoBF Awards 2023 is award-winning journalist Kathriona Deveruex and there will be addresses from Laura McHugh (HSE National Breastfeeding Coordinator) and Malvina Walsh (Chairperson of Baby Feeding Law Group Ireland), and a poetry recital from Dr. Maria Tempany (‘The Rhyming One’).

There will also be a raffle with incredible prizes up for grabs. Some tickets remain available at the event and are excellent value at just €65 for a prosecco reception and delicious three course lunch.

The Mohill breastfeeding group

Head to ‘Friends of Breastfeeding’ on Facebook or Instagram for the ticket link, or search for ‘Friends of Breastfeeding’ on Eventbrite.

Friends of Breastfeeding is a registered charity in Ireland that exists to support women and families to have the breastfeeding journey they desire by providing peer support, signposting information, and raising awareness about breastfeeding support options.

FoBF is run entirely by volunteers, providing its flagship services of the peer-led Breastfeeding Buddy System and the Mum2Mum Groups.

FoBF’s mission statement is: “Friends of Breastfeeding is a community that provides excellence in breastfeeding support, and which advocates for a society that values and supports breastfeeding.”