Irish Stars help Children’s Health Ireland Light Up for Christmas
Irish Stars help Children’s Health Ireland Light Up for Christmas
Dec. 5, 2023
All CHI locations
News
This week, all four Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) sites at Temple Street, Crumlin, Tallaght and Connolly will be lighting up for Christmas, with a little help from patients, staff and some familiar faces!
Once those twinkling lights go on, it means Christmas has arrived for children in hospital, and the incredible staff at Children’s Health Ireland who work so hard to bring the Christmas magic to patients and their families. The light-ups are in partnership with Children's Health Foundation.
Please see below details for each of the light-up events, and quotes from some festive VIPs:
CHI at Tallaght - Tuesday, 5th December @ 4pm
Special guests: CHI Patient and Lord Mayor Alan Edge.
Lilly Corkish (8) is a patient in CHI at Tallaght. We asked Lilly what lights up Christmas for her:
““I love Christmas because everyone is cheerful, kind and nice. My favourite thing is when you get to open your presents from Santa and spending time with Cory, Zach, Ross, Mammy and Daddy”.
CHI at Crumlin - Wednesday 6th December @ 5.30pm
Special guests: CHI Patient and Irish Rugby Star and Children’s Health Foundation Ambassador, Josh Van Der Flier.
Michael Bollard is 5 months old, and just got home from CHI at Crumlin after his heart surgery. Michael’s Mum, Gillian, said:
““What makes Christmas special for us is having our baby boy home and well, and being around our family and friends. We are so proud of Michael, he is an absolute hero in our eyes. Thanks to every single person in Crumlin that made this year even more special for us, we cannot thank them enough.”
CHI at Temple Street - Thursday 7th December @ 3.45pm
Special Guests: CHI Patient, Santa Claus and former Irish Rugby star and TV broadcaster and Children’s Health Foundation Ambassador, Jamie Heaslip.
(Media are invited to this event, interviews available on request to our media team.)
CHI at Connolly - Friday 8th December @ 4.30pm
Special Guests: CHI patient and Children’s Health Foundation Ambassadors from the Dublin men’s GAA team
Anne Marie Dowling is Assistant Director of Nursing and Manager at CHI at Connolly. Anne Marie says it is a privilege to work with families at this special time of year:
““Christmas is special time for every child, but for a sick child and their family, Christmas can seem overwhelming and very emotional. I will always remember a comment that a parent made about a small gesture that made a big difference. This was the family’s first Christmas as a family of three, and being admitted to hospital was not where they were expecting to be. “Mum told me that when she looked in the Christmas Eve bag that staff had made up, that she got very emotional as it meant so much to her. She was able to decorate her little boy’s cot with a My 1st Christmas blanket, teddy, fairy lights, Santa Stop Here sign, chocolates and other bits, and take some lovely Christmas family photos. It just brings home that a little gesture and kindness goes a long way, but at Christmas it can create lifelong memories.”
This Christmas, your support can help give children the very best chance in Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly. To make a Christmas donation, visit www.childrenshealth.ie
