| Betty Irwin |
 Betty Irwin was the first Administrative Director at the Northern Ireland Hospice, Belfast. For almost 30 years prior to her
appointment she had worked in the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance. She was invited by Sidney Stewart, head of the
Voluntary Service Bureau to attend the first public meeting for the Hospice and afterwards became involved in the Steering
Group. Betty was asked to write a job description for an administrative post and decided to apply for the job herself. She
talks about her role in helping to set up the Hospice and then her work as Administrative Director, a job which lasted four
years until her retirement. She goes on to discuss the management of the Hospice and the appointment of staff. She also talks
about the main problems she encountered; the reaction of other professionals in the community to the Hospice; the principle
changes that have occurred; the impact of the religious and political situation in Northern Ireland; public perceptions of
the Hospice; the geographical separation of Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK; and their relationship with the other
Hospices in the Province and the rest of the UK. She ends by talking about her continued involvement with the Northern Ireland
Hospice and what she feels the future holds for it.
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| Interview conducted by Clare Humphreys, 2 August 2000 |
| Interview Duration: 65 minutes |
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