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‘Operation Garden Transformation’ – Sophies Journey Foundation Completes Final Project

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Sophies Journey Foundation final project is to transform the garden of Taylor Rose and her mum Mary.

‘Operation Garden Transformation’ – Sophies Journey Foundation Completes Final Project

By I Love Limerick correspondent Rachel Petticrew

Sophies Journey Foundation final

Taylor Rose, pictured with her mum Mary, uses a wheelchair and was unable to access the garden in her home.


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Limerick charity Sophies Journey Foundation is nearing completion on its final project, ‘Operation Garden Transformation’, renovating the garden of a beautiful little girl, Taylor Rose, and her mum, Mary.

Taylor Rose, who uses a wheelchair, was unable to access the garden in her home during the Covid-19 pandemic. Liam and Stacey Mulcahy, founders of Sophie’s Journey Foundation, decided that this would be the perfect final challenge for them. 

“We wanted to go out on a big project. Taylor Rose has been involved with Sophies Journey Foundation for a while. During the pandemic, we spoke to her mum Mary. We had seen the garden and knew that Taylor Rose was unable to go outside as the garden was full of grass,” founder Liam Mulcahy told I Love Limerick. 

The project was initially delayed as a result of the pandemic, however, the garden will now be ready for Taylor Rose’s birthday this weekend.

“Covid halted a lot of the plans as construction and landscaping services were put on hold, so we couldn’t do it as early as we would have liked,” said Mr Mulcahy.

“It’s fitting though because this weekend is Taylor Rose’s birthday. That wasn’t planned, it’s just the way it fell. Construction should be finished by Friday, all going well.”

Sophie’s Journey Foundation has been supported and assisted by countless volunteers over the past 14 years. However, due to Covid-19 restrictions, ‘Operation Garden Transformation’ was carried out by just one man, landscaper Pat Hennessy. 

The project has been achieved as a result of donations to Sophie’s Journey Foundation. The theme for the transformation was to bring an outdoor picnic area into the back garden.

“The project will add nearly three metres to the garden. There are sensory plants and a little covered area where Taylor Rose can sit out in the sun, a little picnic table, and we’re hoping to have a swing as well,” told Mr Mulcahy.

“We wanted to have a place where her friends could come over and visit when it was safe to do so.”

The garden is also designed to give Taylor Rose’s mum some respite.

“It’s for Mary too, to have somewhere to sit out and relax. She needs it as much as Taylor Rose. People kind of forget about the parents and what they’re going through, especially during these times when services are so limited. It’s massive for both of them,” said Mr Mulcahy.

Sophie’s Journey Foundation was formed by Liam and Stacey Mulcahy in January 2015, to support families with children who were dealing with life-limiting conditions. The foundation was set up in memory of their daughter Sophie Mulcahy, who sadly passed away from kidney failure on October 23rd, 2014 at the age of eight. Funds raised by the foundation go directly to supporting in-home care for children with life-limiting illnesses in the Limerick area. The foundation also embarks on projects that benefit children of all abilities in Limerick.

Sophies Journey Foundation final

Richard pictured with the Mulcahys including the beautiful Sophie in pink. Picture: Caleb Purcell.

Recently, the Mulcahy family decided to retire Sophie’s Journey Foundation after 14 years of helping countless families and charities.

“Emotionally, it’s a big thing for us that we’re actually finished after fourteen years. Looking back, we didn’t realise how many families we have helped and how many charities we were involved in over the years. It’s nice because at the time we didn’t think we would ever pay back all the services that helped Sophie when she was alive. After fourteen years of doing so, we’ve decided that it’s time to stop and retire the foundation.” explained Mr Mulcahy.

“We are extremely proud of what we’ve done. We’ve had a team behind us the whole way, from the very first fundraiser to getting the Mungret Inclusion Park over the line – that took an immense amount of work. There were projects that, looking back, took a humungous amount of effort. We like to think we’ve left a positive impact with every project we have done.”

Sophie’s Journey Foundation would like to say a special thank you to Richard Lynch and I Love Limerick for their constant support through the years.

To keep up to date with ‘Operation Garden Transformation’ go HERE

For more stories on Sophie’s Journey Foundation go HERE

 

Sophies Journey Foundation final

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.