Childrens Grief Centre Lunch in honour of International Womens Day is a great success!

Childrens Grief Centre Lunch – pictured at the event were, Sr. Helen Culhane, Hazel Hartigan, Dr. Sinead Kane, Olive Foley, Muireann O’Connell, Claire Brock and Ciara McCullough. Picture: Alan Place

Childrens Grief Centre Lunch in honour of International Womens Day is a great success!

Noreen Lane, Helen O’Donnell and Orla Kelly. Picture: Alan Place.

Glamour and fun have not gone away and were to be found in equal measure at the Second Annual International Women’s Day Childrens Grief Centre lunch held at Adare Manor on Sunday, March 6th, 2022.

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Over 250 guests kicked off the Childrens Grief Centre lunch with a drinks reception followed by a delicious lunch flawlessly served by the wonderful staff of Adare Manor to raise funds for the Childrens Grief Centre.

MC, James Sexton, fired up the crowd with a short quiz followed by a raffle for which many local businesses had  generously donated a vast selection of prizes. 

A very moving panel interview took place hosted by Claire Brock. Dr Sinead Kane, Muireann O Connell and Hazel Hartigan each provided some very heartfelt insights into overcoming various personal challenges they had experienced in their lives, providing the guests with some well received food for thought. 

Introducing the proceedings, Olive Foley, in her role as organiser and Ambassador for the Children’s Grief Centre, told the gregarious crowd that the Children’s Grief Centre continues to be a huge source of support to her and her family following the sudden death of her husband Anthony five years ago. 

“Having the Children’s Grief Centre available to my sons and I following Anthony’s death was invaluable. Grief sadly features in many children’s  lives, and the support received on days like today is essential to ensuring that the special service provided by Sr Helen and the Children’s Grief Centre can continue and grow into the future.”

The Children’s Grief Centre provides a space and place for children to explore their experience of loss. It provides a safe, non-judgmental environment where grieving children and teenagers can express what they feel and learn that they are not alone.

After the “dream build” fundraising campaign began last year, building on the new Children’s Grief Centre has now officially begun.

The new building at the John Henry Newman Campus at Mary Immaculate College will allow the centre to deal with the rising demand for their services. 

“As soon as we get into our new building, we’ll be able to do more to help as many children as possible,” Sr Helen added. “People find it very difficult to talk to children about death and bereavement, so we will always be here to help. We want to thank JP McManus as this would not be possible without him. We also want to thank the people of Limerick and to everyone who contributed to making this dream come through.”

Fundraising is still currently taking place for the building and there is hope that it will open within 12 months. 

To donate to the Children’s Grief Centre go HERE

For more stories on the Children’s Grief Centre go HERE