Bohemians team up with Gaelscoil Bharra pupils for Christmas gift drive for children living in Direct Provision

Bohemians and community volunteers were joined by members of the first teams and pupils from Gaelscoil Bharra to pack up Christmas presents for children living in Direct Provision at the RDS today.

This is the eighth year the club, in partnership with Bang Bang, MASI (Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland) and DHL, have run this initiative with donations from members of the public this year bringing in €80,000 to fund the purchase of the gifts.

Bohemian FC COO Daniel Lambert explains: “This all started from supporters running a bus to bring people living in Direct Provision in Clondalkin to games.

“We got to know the people out there, and the 80 kids who were living there. We wanted to do something for them at Christmas. So it started small but more and more people from the club and community got involved and wanted to help out.

“The second year we ran the initiative, we were getting a huge amount of toys donated, filling the dressing room in Dalymount for enough toys for about 1000 kids.

“More and more people wanted to help out, donate toys and raise money to buy toys, so we were able to expand the initiative to the extent that we now give Christmas presents to kids in Direct Provision right across the state.

“We are indebted to club members and volunteers and to people right across the community who give up their time to donate toys and money and put in the hard work to make sure they are delivered too. We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them.

“We are also fortunate that we have the RDS allowing us to use their space here to do all of that work and also to our sponsors in DHL who deliver the toys right across the state.

“This year we also had kids from Gaelscoil Bharra Cabra here helping us out all day, who went into town today with their teacher and principal and picked out gifts for other kids who they know would otherwise have a tough Christmas was very special too, and probably one of the nicest parts of the day.”

And that appreciation is shared by the pupils of Gaelscoil Bharra Cabra.

Seán Ó Donaile, príomhoide Gaelscoil Bharra Cabra, said: “At Christmas time it is important to remember the story of Jesus, a child refugee whose family were told there was no room at the inn.

“Our school links in with different community initiatives. We have links with Cabra Men’s Shed, St Finbar’s GAA, Bohs and other groups in our community.

“In all of our communities, there are discussions and debates about refugees and immigrants, and the children wanted to be a part of this initiative.

“Rather than talking about getting presents, they understand the meaning of giving. That’s what Christmas is all about.

“It is a great education for them. They’re young kids but they are approaching this from a position of understanding and of solidarity.

“We all hear discussions about Ireland being full and the children are no different, they hear and have those discussions themselves. 95% is positive but we have to discuss these things out in the open because sometimes we can be in echo chambers.

“It’s really important that in Dublin 1 and Dublin 7 that there are organisations like Bohs who bring people together, and portray people from different countries and backgrounds in a positive way, so we are delighted that we could be a part of that here today.”

Photographs available from Sportsfile: https://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/112412026/