History Of Cork ARC Cancer Support House
Cork ARC is a safe haven for people with cancer and their families, where you can find information, practical help and emotional support. Whatever stage of your cancer journey, you are not alone. If you are a cancer patient or someone close to you has cancer, we are here to offer you specialist professional support ranging from counselling to pilates classes to information on social welfare.
Our History
Our story begins with a group of people who recognised a gap in our cancer services and came together with a shared vision of supporting people with cancer and their families in the Munster region.
In 2001 they formed a Board of Trustees and together set about designing a plan for Cork ARC Cancer Support House. The Board brought their plan to the then Department of Health, seeking their support and they provided us with our original premises, ‘Cliffdale’, on O’Donovan Rossa Road on a life lease. A refurbishment and extension of ‘Cliffdale’ was necessary and a fundraising campaign for the project began in earnest.
Great emphasis was put on creating the ambience and atmosphere of the house and within twelve months of the launch, we transformed the house into a warm and tranquil haven and welcomed our first visitors when we opened our doors in 2003. We received huge support from many local businesses and people in our community and with their help the house became the haven and welcome and calm that it is today. From the outset, the need for services was immediately evident as people made contact as soon as we opened our doors. Over the years, the number and variety of support services we offer has increased to meet the evolving needs of our visitors.
In 2017, after years of searching for a new premises that could provide the space to meet the demand for our services, Cork ARC purchased the beautiful Sarsfield House on Sarsfield Road. The 8.000 sq ft building was transformed during a six-month redevelopment project in 2019 into the magnificent new home for Cork ARC, from where the future needs of our client can be met in a soothing and safe environment, building on our experience over many years. We settled into our new home from September 2019 and, thanks to the staff and many wonderful volunteers, the essence of Cork ARC – developed in Cliffdale – has transferred to our new location.