Last week we said sad goodbyes to a brilliant group of volunteers. Four students from St Vincents School, Dundalk (Zoe Nevin, Aoife Clarke, Siomha Murphy and Marie-Christina McManus) were accompanied by Cristian Mulligan and our favourite siblings, Brian and Laura Kilboy!

The group mainly worked with our Day Centre children, teaching them different skills through art and craft including making masks, dream-catchers and decorating shoeboxes (which the volunteers later filled with presents for each child!)

Next they organised a clean up of the local play area. Everybody got stuck in collecting litter, painting the equipment and they even installed a new picnic table, a rubbish bin and a bridge to make the park more accessible. It was good for the children to make a positive impact on the local community and we hope that their work will inspire the villagers to keep the park tidy and clean.

The group also arranged a surprise trip to the forest for the entire foundation (100 of us in total!) where they organised fun games, traditional sports day races and an Ireland vs Romania football match!

A tasty BBQ was enjoyed by all and then a sing-song led by the talented Cristian.

In their free time the volunteers also painted a mural to brighten up the Day Centre walls and to leave a lasting impression!

Finally they organised a party where there were lots of sad faces at having to say goodbye! The group left last week (except for Laura who is staying on for another few weeks to work with our residents) but won’t be forgotten and we’re sure they will be back!

Thank you from all of us here in Casa Brigid!