ILFA Ireland

13/10/2026

It is just 10 weeks to go until the big day is here! 🎄✨

Our official ILFA Christmas cards are now officially on sale, featuring 6 stunning festive designs uniquely created by talented members of our wonderful ILFA community. 🎨💜

Every single pack purchased plays a vital role in helping us raise much-needed funds to sustain our national support, research, and advocacy services for those living with lung fibrosis throughout Ireland.

Please share this post with family, friends, or anyone looking for a truly meaningful way to give back and spread hope this Christmas season.

📦 Purchase your ILFA Christmas cards directly from our online shop here:
👉 https://ilfa.ie/product-category/ilfa/

12/10/2026

The Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA) sends our heartfelt congratulations and thanks to Patricia Purcell and her two sons, Paul and Andrew, who completed an incredible Camino trek in September.

The Purcell family undertook this inspiring journey in loving memory of a beloved husband and dad, Ollie, who sadly passed away in 2021.

Their trek began at home with the Celtic Camino, completing 25km in a single day. They then continued their journey to Santiago, walking an exceptional 85km over 3 days.

Through their phenomenal efforts, the family has raised over €4,000 to support lung fibrosis patients throughout Ireland.

We are immensely grateful to Patricia, Paul, Andrew, and everyone who generously supported their journey.

12/10/2026

Planning ahead for physical and mental wellbeing

Looking after both your physical and mental wellbeing while living with lung fibrosis is very important. The Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA) has many resources available to help you navigate your way through the challenges you might face including:

Psychological Counselling Grant Scheme – Available to patients, carers, and family members to support your mental wellbeing and provide a safe space to discuss your concerns. https://ilfa.ie/blog/new-counselling-grant-scheme/

Exercise Classes – A available to all members, ILFA’s exercise classes are designed to support lung fibrosis patients to improve their fitness levels. https://ilfa.ie/living-with/excercise/

National Support Groups - ILFA has a number of support groups around the country for all our members to engage with peers and other lung fibrosis patients https://ilfa.ie/patient-support-groups/

For more information visit our website -https://ilfa.ie/planning-ahead/

11/10/2026

The Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA) sends our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended our Ecumenical Service of Prayer and Reflection on 10th October at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Whitefriar St. Church. We had over 100 guests join us in the Church and at the social gathering in the Community Hall afterwards. People travelled from all over the country to attend and many joined online to experience this special event. Thanks to everyone who shared their thanks and appreciation.
We are indebted to the Reverend Canon Brian McKay (Prior of Terenure College) and the Reverend Canon David Oxley (Rector of Santry) for leading the beautiful service and describing the important work of ILFA in supporting patients and families. We were treated to exquisite singing by the Culwick Choral Society with Conductor, Caitriona Fitzmaurice, and Musical Director, Kevin Boushel. Beautiful and delicate music was performed by Mary Kelly (harpist) and Niall Barrett (organist).
We are grateful to our volunteers who helped with all aspects of the service and to the team at Whitefriar St Church and the Carmelite Community Centre, especially Michael, Margaret, and Mikaela. We would also like to acknowledge the kind help of Niamh English, James Kavanagh, Eddie Cassidy, and Sophia and Spandana from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, who helped welcome attendees and looked after them at the Community Hall.
We had an impromptu speech at the Community Hall to pay heartfelt thanks to the Doohan family from Donegal who presented ILFA with an extraordinary gift in memory of their loved one, Eamonn Doohan. A beautiful copper plate with the ILFA logo designed by artist Neil Ferry at Donegal Copper craft, was generously bequeathed to ILFA and Gemma O'Dowd and Nicola Cassidy gratefully accepted the stunning piece of art on behalf of ILFA. We were emotionally moved by this beautiful gesture and will treasure this gift. Furthermore, we will display the plaque at future Ecumenical Services, in memory of Eamonn Doohan. We are extremely grateful to the Doohan family.
It was a special day for the ILFA community, and we are grateful to everyone who joined us in person, online, and in spirit. We look forward to welcoming you again next year.

10/10/2026

The Irish Lung Fibrosis Association would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who supported our advocacy work throughout the year and during September’s Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month.

Thanks to our advocates and to Catherine Callaghan, TD and John Lahart, TD for sponsoring our AV Room presentation on 23rd September, and to all who have advocated for our budget 2027 priorities.

10/10/2026

The Irish Lung Fibrosis Association's Service of Prayer and Reflection will take place this afternoon (Saturday 10th October) at 4.30pm at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Whitefriar Street Church, Aungier Street, Dublin 2. The ecumenical service will be led by The Reverend Canon Brian McKay and the Reverend Canon David Oxley and we look forward to beautiful music and hymns from the Culwick Choral Society accompanied by Mary Kelly (harpist) and Niall Barrett (organist). All are welcome and we look forward to meeting you.
Afterwards tea, coffee, and treats will be served in the Carmelite Community Centre. If you are attending and are in a position to bring some home baking, cakes or biscuits along for everyone to enjoy, we would be most grateful.
The Ecumenical Service will be livestreamed and can be accessed via the links below
https://whitefriarstreetchurch.com/
https://www.churchservices.tv/whitefriarstreet

09/10/2026

Budget 2027 Key Priority 3: Resource the Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Pathway Framework Implementation.

Budget 2026 funded the development of an HSE National Framework for Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Diagnosis and Care in Ireland which has recommended a series of improvements in care for people living with lung fibrosis nationwide. This framework’s recommendations will transform lung fibrosis care, and it must now be implemented.

Budget 2027 must provide staffing and resources (€140,500) to lead the framework recommendations implementation across the HSE!

09/10/2026

08/10/2026

We want to make your voice heard! 🗣️

The Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA) is calling on our members to complete the EU-PFF Access Index Patient Survey.

This vital research by the European Pulmonary Fibrosis Federation gathers insights from people living with lung fibrosis, their families, and carers.

Your voice will help us build better advocacy tools and improve care for patients in Ireland and across Europe.

⏳ Deadline: 15th November

👉 Take the survey here:

EU-PFFs iniative to identify the challenges in care across Europe

08/10/2026

Budget 2027 Key Priority 2: Medical cards and utility cost relief for lung fibrosis patients – the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association's recent affordability survey showed that 1 in 3 lung fibrosis patients have faced financial difficulty in the past 12 months because of their condition.

As one respondent said, "I have been declined disability and invalidity payments and supplementary payments from the government. My life savings are now almost zero and having to rely on my partners wage for everything."

Medical cards must be provided to all lung fibrosis patients as a matter of routine care!

Utility grants and offsets must be put in place to relieve the high cost of electricity for patients using supplemental oxygen!

Link to Affordability Survey - https://ilfa.ie/blog/for-immediate-release-lung-fibrosis-affordability-crisis/