All fares well yet again for taxi outing

SIX hundred taxi drivers gave up a day’s fares yesterday to take almost 2,000 children with special needs on a fun day out.

Organiser Tom Colgan said that it had never once rained on the Dublin Taxi Drivers’ Children’s Outing since it began 43 years ago and yesterday was no different.

“We know of taxi drivers that have got married on the day as they know it will not rain,” he said.

The taxi drivers had also invited a number of Irish Special Olympians and presented them with specially commissioned medals to mark their achievements during the summer games.

And there were no complaints from the public about the taxi drivers when they caused a bit of traffic congestion when taking their VIPs in their balloon-festooned vehicles to a party across town.

Around midday more than 500 taxis paraded down O’Connell Street before heading for Club 92 in Leopardstown, where more taxi drivers had been busy cooking hamburgers and chips and other party treats.

Among those waving off the convoy from Parnell Square was Dublin Lord Mayor Royston Brady.

Ambrosia, which has sponsored the event for the past five years, provided over 3,000 balloons and thousands of flags to decorate participating taxis.

Michael Sheridan, secretary of the Dublin Taxi Drivers’ Association, said they took children and adults from more than 40 hospitals, day-care centres and residential care centres in the city.

A number of the children who enjoyed the party live in residential institution so for them the day out is the only outside event they are invited to during the year. Some have been attending the event every year since it was established.

While the day out is a huge undertaking for the taxi drivers who spend six months every year preparing for the event, it does not stop there. Mr Sheridan explained that they also raise money for various homes, day-care centres and hospitals to supplement their budgets. Last year, they raised €50,000 to support various projects.