The concept of a Hospice for the North West of Ireland began when local GP Dr Tom McGinley was visiting an 18 year old man dying of terminal cancer. Dr Tom felt, not only his own inadequacy, but also that of the Health Service in general at being unable to provide the necessary care for this young man. This failure became a personal challenge which subsequently became the vision of a Hospice for the area. A small steering committee was set up in early 1984 and intense fundraising started in earnest.