The Children’s Remembrance Day Committee in UHG launch their annual ‘Sponsor a Christmas Tree Light’

The Children’s Remembrance Day Committee at University Hospital Galway has launched their annual ‘Sponsor a Christmas Tree Light’. The Committee started this initiative 23 years ago as a way of remembering loved ones in a very special way over the festive season.

Every time a light is sponsored, a specially designed Christmas card is given to the purchaser who can send the card to the person they have sponsored the card for to let them know that they are being thought about. Or the card representing the light can be kept in memory of a loved one who has died or sent to their family letting them know that they are being thought about. 

Margaret Flannery, Saolta Arts Director said, “This year’s Christmas card was designed by staff nurse Michelle Munnelly and features a snow globe. The illustration captures a peaceful Christmas message with the imagery of the hospital in the snow globe.  We asked members of staff to submit their designs for the card and when we looked at all the entries, Michelle’s really captured the essence of what the committee was looking for. It’s lovely to have the image of the snow globe going into people’s homes all around Ireland and the world this Christmas.”

The funds raised through the sale of the Christmas tree lights are used to fund the activities of the Children’s Remembrance Day Committee throughout the year. This includes the annual Remembrance Mass for deceased Children as well as the Ecumenical Memorial Service for deceased patients. The lights will be available to purchase in the outpatient department at UHG on the following dates and times. Each light costs €5.

•        Saturday 27 November: 10am to 6pm
•        Saturday 04 and Sunday 05 December: 10am to 5pm
•        Saturday 11 December: 10am to 6pm
•        Sunday 12 December: 10am to 4pm

Lights will also be sold in Merlin Park University Hospital in the foyer outside the shop on 02 December from 11.30am to 3pm.

If you would like to sponsor a Christmas tree light, please contact Children’s Remembrance Day Committee members Anne McKeown on 091 893718 /087 968 4271 or Helena Hanrahan on 087 771 6648 for more information.

Switching on the Christmas Tree Lights

On Sunday 12 December Irish country singer and Galway native Mike Denver will officially switch on the Christmas tree lights at UHG. The afternoon’s festivities will commence at 3.30pm.  The lights on the tree will remain until 07 January 2022.

People who attend the event on 12 December will be asked to comply with the public health measures in place. People should not attend the event if they are suffering from any symptoms or signs of COVID-19, if they have been deemed a close contact of a positive case of COVID-19, if they have been in contact with any person who is suffering from the symptoms or signs of COVID-19, or if they themselves have tested positive in the previous 10 days.

Photo Caption:
Attending the Remembrance Day Committee Christmas Card launch were, from left: Michelle Munnelly, Artist; Chris Kane, General Manager, Galway University Hospital; Margaret Flannery, Saolta Arts Director and Maura Mannion chairperson of the Children's Remembrance Day Committee.