The living memory of a young Oranmore woman who died after contracting meningitis eight years ago will be enhanced this Sunday (June 18 ) when the fifth of five wishes pledged in her honour will be furthered by a Midsummer Walk in the Park (Rinville Park ) to raise funds for Sadhbh’s Wish No. 5 which is supporting COPE Galway.
In supporting COPE Galway Spiorad Shaidhbh hopes to help this very worthy organisation to reach out to those who most need their support. Sadhbh’s Walk will begin with registration at the lower car park at 11.45am and conclude with the releasing of 18 balloons — a balloon for every year of her short but vibrant life.
Friends of ‘Spiorad Shaidhbh’, Mick Silke of Yummy Crepes, Galway Market, Kate Molloy of Kate’s Make-up/Face-painting, Deirdre Carmody of Deesigner Balloons, artists Hannah Murray, Leah Murray and Róisín Curé have all kindly offered their services providing both children and adults who attend the walk with lots of fun activities and scrumptious refreshments.
Spiorad Shaidhbh’ was set up by the parents, family, and friends of Sadhbh Ní Bhrádaigh, an 18-year-old student from Oranmore who died from pneumococcal meninigitis on Christmas Day Night, 2009. ‘Spiorad Shaidhbh’ is, as its name suggests, a charitable organisation that aims to embody the spirit of the person it is named after.
So who inspired ‘Spiorad Shaidhbh?
Sadhbh was a young woman full of energy and fun with a great sense of wit and humour. She wore her heart on her sleeve and was quick to come to the defence of those less fortunate than herself. It is with these qualities in mind that ‘Spiorad Shaidhbh’ was founded as a means of honouring her memory, through fundraising and organising a series of small acts of kindness that will hopefully improve the lives of others in the local community in which we live.
They call these small acts of kindness ‘Sadhbh’s Wish List’ and hope to fulfill a wish a year over a period of five years.
Past wishes on Sadhbh’s Wish List have included:
Wish No. 1
Refurbishment of the family rooms used by those who have loved ones in the ICU unit in Galway University Hospital. This was successfully completed with the help and support of many kind and generous people and we have received many letters and calls over the past months from family and friends of those who spent some time in the ICU Unit in UHG expressing how grateful they were for the peace and comfort these rooms gave them in their time of need.
Wish No 2.
Supporting ACT for Meningitis founded by Siobhan and Noel Carroll after their little four-year-old daughter Aoibhe died from the disease in 2008.
Again the emphasis of ‘Spiorad Shaidhbh’ was on the comfort and care of those left behind after the loss of a loved one. In this particular case it involved furnishing a room where parents could meet in peaceful comfortable surroundings with staff members of ACT for Meningitis or different experts as the need arose.
Wish No 3.
To raise funds to provide music therapy for young adults with an intellectual disability who attend the Aisling Centre Day services, Brothers of Charity, Renmore, Galway. This project proved very successful and was very much in tune with the very heart of what Sadhbh’s Wish List is all about- reaching out to the marginalised in our local community and making a real difference to their lives in a very practical fashion through listening, liaising and supporting them and those who work closely with them.
Wish No 4.
The 2016 venture was to raise funds to support Jigsaw, Galway, in their efforts to set up a new outreach programme for young people throughout rural County Galway where access to their drop-in centre might pose a difficulty. This latest wish is in keeping with the spirit of the previous three wishes.
Wish No 5.
This latest wish, Wish No. 5 is to support COPE Galway a local charity that that has been operating in Galway since the 1970’s and continues to provide vital services to those isolated and vulnerable in our community. This year Spiorad Shaidhbh is fundraising for COPE Galway, with two specific goals in mind
To help refurbish and improve the living areas for the women and children that avail of the services provided at Osterley lodge , Salthill where accommodation is provided for up to 12 women and families who for various reasons experience homelessness.
To decorate and equip a sensory room for the children of Waterside House which provides 24hr access to safe emergency accommodation for women and children affected by domestic violence. This much needed sensory room will provide a safe space for the children where they will have the opportunity, with the support of their Play Therapist, to re-engage with others, learn new skills and participate in therapeutic activities. Thus ensuring that they experience the best possible environment in which to grow, develop and hopefully thrive.
“It is about caring and reaching out to those in our community who are often ignored or marginalised. It is about inclusivity rather than exclusivity. It is about bringing hope and joy to those that sometimes cannot do it for themselves and in turn nurturing that feeling among ourselves and others that can only be got from practicing such random acts of kindness,” said a spokesperson for Spiorad Shaidhbh.
As with all our wishes to date Wish No.5 is in keeping with the spirit of our last four wishes. Once again it is about caring and reaching out to those in our community who are often ignored or marginalised. It is about inclusivity rather than exclusivity. It is about bringing hope and joy to those that sometimes cannot do it for themselves and in turn nurturing that feeling among ourselves and others that can only be got from practicing such random acts of kindness.
“Having succeeded in realizing the first five wishes on Sadhbh’s Wish List and, in no small way due to the wonderful support we have received over the years from many friends and supporters, we in Spiorad Shaidhbh plan to recommit to working towards another five wishes, as of yet to be decided upon, but again continuing to embrace the essence of what Spiorad Shaidhbh is all about — small random acts of kindness that have a big impact on the lives of those most vulnerable in our local community.
Further information can be obtained at www.facebook.com Spiorad Shaidhbh page. Donations can be made to AIB account number 19439086 Branch Code 937223 or Online at idonate.ie or on the day in Rinville Park.
