A Christmas spent lighting up the lives of others — one good deed at a time

Arlene Harris talks to people who will spend their Christmas helping others in need, providing delicious meals, being on standby in case of emergencies, and even delivering gifts

Valentia Lifeboat Station Valentia Island, County Kerry. Pictured - Back left to right: Cornelia Lyne, Brian Mollaghan, Denis Daly, Dominic Lyne, Michelle O'Shea, Neilie Lyne, Conn O'Shea, Mick Smyt. Kneeling: Left to right: Ciaran Murphy, Aidan Riordan, Liam O'Shea, Sammy Chenford & Richard Quigley Coxswain. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD.

For most people, Christmas is a time for rest, getting together with family and loved ones, and getting a well-earned rest at the end of a busy year.

But it is also a time for giving and caring, and thousands of people all over the country will put their own needs aside and spend their free time helping others in need.

We spoke to three people showing the true spirit of Christmas by offering to help others during the season of goodwill.

RNLI

Michelle O’Shea lives in Kerry with her husband Liam and their three children (aged three, six, and nine). During Christmas, her colleagues at the RNLI station on Valentia Island will also be on hand, ensuring they will be available to come to the rescue if any member of the public gets into difficulty.

“The crew here do a brilliant job and are on hand 24/7 for 365 days of the year, regardless of whether or not it is Christmas.

I’ve been volunteering with RNLI for eight years and am shore-based, working in fundraising and helping with the boat launches — my husband is a crew member who goes out on the water. We have many others, including Sammy [Chenford], who has very young children, and he’ll be on call at Christmas as well.

“We cover the South West region, with the next stations being Fenit and Castletownbere.

“It’s impossible to tell whether there will be any call-outs over Christmas or not as it is so weather dependent and if people go out for a swim or even for a coastal walk and the weather changes, they could suddenly get into difficulty, so we have to be always available. A few years ago, a child fell off a cliff during a Christmas family walk.

Valentia Lifeboat Station Valentia Island Co Kerry. Michelle O'Shea PR & Richard Quigley Coxswain. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD.

“Also, the New Year swim is becoming very popular, but often, people aren’t used to the temperature, the current or even the area they are swimming in, and problems can occur. No one minds being on call over Christmas and new year.

Valentia is a very small community, and everyone on the crew is either related to someone else, married to them or has some sort of connection, whether they are brothers, father and son or daughter, brother and sister, nephews, brother-in-law.

“Since we’re all local and grew up around the water, some are fishermen, lifeguards or just into water-based activities, we know how unpredictable the sea is and the importance of keeping the service running all year round. Everyone is happy to do it. 

"Of course, we would prefer not to have to go out in the middle of Christmas dinner, but when the pager goes off, you just drop and go. Ultimately, though, there’s no feeling quite like bringing someone home safe to their families — especially at Christmas.

“We would encourage everyone to take a fully-charged phone with them when they go out, let people know where they are going, be familiar with the emergency services numbers — 999 and 112 — and pay attention to the weather forecast.”

Penny Dinners

With seven children and 15 grandchildren, Penny Dinners volunteer coordinator Caitriona Twomey is used to being busy, particularly at Christmas.

“At Christmas, our day begins at 6am. It’s all systems go, but while all the volunteers are upbeat, we are mindful of the loneliness of many on Christmas Day and pull out every stop. 

"We serve a traditional four-course meal with all the trimmings courtesy of Ruairí and the River Lee Hotel, who have been doing this for years.

“In addition to the food, we are lucky to have the famous High Hopes Choir and guests and the outstanding Barrack Street Brass and Reed Band, who lift the roof every year. 

And Santa will, of course, be there with gifts for everyone. We also have a huge number of deliveries to families and vulnerable adults, and our team of voluntary drivers, under the baton of Michael Turtle of Exec Cars and Edwin will work tirelessly to ensure the logistics are right.

“Seeing it all come together on Christmas Day, with our chefs and other volunteers, is one of the most uplifting and inspirational feelings anyone could experience. It is our miracle here at Penny Dinners, and we are so grateful to all who support us every day of the year.

“Our aim is to bring Christmas to all, and we are so happy to get a good job done, as bringing a smile to
someone’s face is important to us. We are all devoted to helping those who struggle, but we join in all the music on the day — a bit of singing and dancing cheers everyone up.”

Meals on Wheels

Paddy Kevane, a lecturer at Munster Technological University, will coordinate Meals on Wheels Tralee. He has been doing this since 2015 when he was a social care student. “On Christmas Day, he will oversee the distribution of over 600 dinners through Meals on Wheels and a sit-down meal in the centre for anyone who wishes to avail of it.

“Everyone volunteering in Meals on Wheels Tralee on Christmas Day is on a rota and is asked to donate at least one hour of the day to help make it special for those who may find the day difficult or lonely.

We started doing the sit-down meal in 2019 in a parish hall, then covid stopped it for a while, but we restarted it again in our new centre last year.

"It was eventful as we lost power three times while the food was cooking. But a local electrician came in and saved the day.

“It’s great to be part of it, and then once I’ve dedicated a few hours, I will spend the rest of Christmas with my parents and extended family.”