The chairman of Offaly GAA believes an acute hospital is not the environment for someone who is near the end of their life.

Michael Duignan whose wife Edel died from cancer in 2009, was speaking at the launch of a new fundraising campaign to deliver a hospice for the region.

He says it's unbelievable that a region the size of the Midlands is not covered by a Level 3 Hospice.

The Tullamore Lions Club is behind the initiative and is urging farmers to rare young animals to be sold to raise funds for the Midland Hospice Building Fund.

The facility will cost around 8 to 10 million and will be based in Tullamore.

Mr Duignan says a hospice gives dignity to the people that need it