Children scream and shout in support of special day

MICKEY HARTE never had a smaller audience but he rarely got a bigger response either.

Ireland’s Eurovision hero was among a swarm of celebrities who entertained a pint-sized crowd yesterday as part of a series of countrywide events to mark National Children’s Day.

Boybands, ManKind and Brokenhill; soloists, Luke Thomas and Hazel Kaneswarren, and No Way Out, Ireland’s answer to Liberty X, all took the stage in Stephen’s Green to give the kiddies a live top of the pops treat.

The Den presenters, Geri Maye and Francis Boylan, stepped outside the box to introduce the performers while back at RTE headquarters, Celebrity Farmer George McMahon brought the fun live to viewers with the help of Dustin and Soky.

The party in Dublin also featured games, puppet shows, face-painters and oodles of other treats but children were not the only special guests as there was also a big turn-out from the soft toy community for the annual teddy bears picnic.

Elsewhere, National Children’s Day volunteers were busy bringing the festivities to children who were passing the day in hospitals around the country and special goodie bags were distributed to the young patients to make sure nobody felt left out.

Parents and guardians also had their role to play. According to the organisers, the adults’ responsibilities included providing breakfast in bed for their little ones, avoiding all urges to nag or give out and, most importantly, leaving peas off the dinner plate for the day.

These once-off concessions were endorsed by no less famous a mammy than President Mary McAleese herself in a message she sent before flying out on her official visit to China.

Mrs McAleese said this year’s theme, ‘Children doing it for themselves’, would foster a pro-active attitude among children and encourage them to get involved in their communities for their own enjoyment and for the support and care of others.

The annual day of celebration for the country’s one million plus children has been running in one form or another for the past 40 years.

RTÉ had a special showing of the Children of Ireland Awards, which were presented last week to children around the country whose bravery, spirit and dedication across a wide range of experiences and endeavours have inspired their communities.