Munster squad brings ray of festive light to sick children
More than 40 members of the Munster rugby squad put Sunday’s big game against Scarlets on the back burner as they lit up the lives of more than 50 sick children in the Rainbow and Sunshine wards.
Ronan O’Gara remarked: “As the parent of young children, you know how quickly they can go down and how quickly they can rebound again. It is a very distressing and stressful time when a child is in hospital and you worry all the time.
“If we can help brighten up today even for five minutes for everybody here, it can make a big difference. It’s the time of year when Santa comes to all kids and, ideally, they would be at home but you have to deal with reality and make it as easy as possible.”
Little Shane Killeen Hehir went wide-eyed with wonder after he arrived with his parents, Anne Marie and Michael, who had brought him to the hospital from Doonbeg in west Clare.
First to greet him in the ward was Paul O’Connell.
“It was a long journey up from west Clare but to meet Paul was just great,” said Michael.
Damien Jack Frawley, 4, got busy harvesting as many autographs as possible.
His mother Samantha from Mungret Court in Limerick said: “He knows all the players from the television.”
Clinical nursing manager Caroline Daughton from Abbeyfeale said the visit of the team had generated huge excitement and the hospital appreciated the big effort made by the team.
Consultant paediatrician Roy Philip said: “This is the best Christmas treat. It’s like so many huge Santa’s coming in to visit all at once.”
