Laethanta saoire cois fharraige i mBaile Brigín le haghaidh páistí ó lár na cathrach.
Although the Society of St Vincent De Paul (SVP) is well known in Ireland for its services for older people and the homeless, one very important part of their work is providing holidays for children at Sunshine House in Balbriggan, north County Dublin.
Many children may live with problems at home, according to Sunshine House volunteer Brian O’Toole, and a week by the sea makes the world of difference to a child who may not normally get a holiday,
Cuid díobh, ní raibh siad riamh ag an bhfarraige, agus ní bheidh siad ag an bhfarraige go dtí an t-ám seo an bhliain seo chughainn nuair a bhí seans eile teacht.
SVP volunteer Brian O'Toole (1994)
While the SVP have been organising summer holidays for children for decades, it is only in the last five or so years that boys and girls come to Sunshine House in the same group. Brothers and sisters holidaying together benefits the family enormously, says Brian O’Toole,
Mar cabhraíonn sé ana-mhór...na deirfiúracha agus deartháracha ag teacht síos le chéile...tá gach duine ag tabhairt aire do gach duine.
Some of the children enjoying the sea air and the activities in Sunshine House talk about their experience. It is all great fun, but there are rules to be observed, note this group of children,
No fightin’, no breakin’ things...you can’t go anywhere without a brother or a sister.
Sunshine House is staffed by volunteers, and the rota is a busy one, as the holiday centre operates 22 weeks of the year, and many have been returning for decades. The only requirement is a willingness to help out and have fun,
Na daoine a thagann chughainn, tagann siad ó gach áit agus gach post, gach slí bheatha...óg agus aosta...
This report for ‘Cúrsaí’ was broadcast on 30 May 1994. The reporter is Maireád Ní Nuadháin.
'Cúrsaí' was an Irish-language television magazine programme. It was first broadcast on 14 October 1986 with Neasa Ní Chinnéide and Seán Ó Tuairisg as presenters. It was originally billed as "iris-chlár le béim faoi leith ar chúrsaí reatha an lae agus ar chúrsaí na tíre i gcoitinne" (RTÉ Guide, 17 October 1986). But it covered a wide range of topics, including politics, current affairs, arts and entertainment. 'Cúrsaí' was broadcast four nights a week, from Tuesday to Friday, on RTÉ 2. It ended on 30 May 1995.
