Cork plays it just right at Ryan’s toy collection

IT was like a scene from the Late Late Toy Show.

For the second day running, people from all over Cork city and beyond gathered armfuls of gifts to donate to children who will be in need this Christmas as part of the Toys for Tubs initiative.

From tots to teens, children of all ages watched in awe as stacks of brand new toys, books and board games piled up in the “pop-up shop” on Opera Lane — while parents, meanwhile, rubbernecked to catch a glimpse of the RTÉ star and the man behind the Toys for Tubs drive, Ryan Tubridy, as he broadcast his radio show from the toy drop-off zone in Cork.

“The warmth and the generosity that we have received in Cork is overwhelming,” said the 2FM radio host. “People have gone to extraordinary depths of kindness.

“With times being so dark and so bleak, people want a reason to be good, and this idea is so simple— it doesn’t break the bank and people are assured that a toy they give will make some child very happy when they open it up on Christmas morning.”

Representatives of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) who will be distributing the gifts to families in need over Christmas said they were overwhelmed by the response in Opera Lane.

“It’s absolute magic,” said SVP national president Mairead Bushnell. “It will make an enormous difference to hundreds of families, and hopefully now Santa will have access to enough toys so that he can visit every house this Christmas.”

One generous gift-giver, Mary Russell from Carrigaline said she thought the toy appeal was “absolutely fantastic”.

“I have four children of my own, there by the grace of God. I’d hate to think of any child waking up on Christmas morning with no presents so I gave something for toddlers and teenagers.”

The willingness of people to dig deep into their pockets and bring a toy to Opera Lane was not limited to those from Cork however, as Gillian and Keith Colgan from Co Waterford proved.

“We came up from Dungarvan when we heard about Toys for Tubs on the radio,” said mother-of-two Gillian, who donated a Bratz doll and a remote control car —complete with the all-important batteries.

Similarly, Shógie and Holly O’Sullivan along with their mother Breda from Killorglin, Co Kerry, dropped into Opera Lane with some Dora the Explorer and Disney books for some lucky boys and girls to enjoy on Christmas morning.

* A full list of drop off zones can be found at http://2fm.rte.ie/tft