An Augustinian Sister has been awarded an MBE by the Queen in the New Year's Honour's List.
Sister Mary Thomas has received the award for services to St George's Park Retirement Village.
She has been pivotal in the creation of this imaginative and innovative state of the art care village which enables older people to live an active and fulfilled life in a secure and supportive environment.
Sr Thomas is from Cabra, Thurles, Co Tipperary in Ireland. She spent time working for an electrical and television firm before she joined the Augustinian Sisters.
She then trained as a general and psychiatric nurse and has spent all of her religious life caring for the sick and elderly frail.
When appointed as the Superior of the Order in the 1990s, she began the process of creating this innovative care village.
She said: "I accept this MBE on behalf of the community of the Sisters of St Augustine and all those we are privileged to serve in our care homes.
"I recognise that the award is given not just to myself but in recognition, too, of my own religious community and many other professionals who have worked with us over these years to assist the elderly and most vulnerable in our society."
