Magical costumes created by students for hospice children

THE LauraLynn Children’s Hospice was the site of many mermaids, witches and superheroes at a recent Halloween parade where children wore specially-made costumes.

The costumes were informed by the children’s interests, which were then brought to life by TU Dublin Tallaght students who created and adapted them for children in wheelchairs and with limb differences.

The spooky display took place in the hospice grounds in Sandyford on Friday, October 27, marking the third year of the Hallow-een collaboration between the service and the Tallaght college.

Numerous schools from the college – including marketing, engineering and media production, along with 3D Assist – worked together to create the costumes as part of the Makeathon Project.

The project is headed up by engineering lecturer Robbie O’Connor, who has been running the event since 2021.

He created the initiative as he saw an opportunity for students to give something back, while also collaborating with other students on a fun project.

According to Robbie: “We have such a great time helping make the costumes at LauraLynn.

“All the students and staff really enjoy participating in the parade, but most of all we love meeting the wonderful children and families in LauraLynn.”

The annual Halloween parade was the culmination of several weeks’ work by the students, which began when engineering students went to the hospice and took measurements of the children’s wheelchairs in early October.

The marketing students spoke to the children and their parents about their bewitching costume ideas, while the media production students documented the event.

Caoimhe Milton, a TU Dublin Tallaght marketing student who participated in the project, added: “From there, staff and students began brewing in their cauldrons for sketches and plans to make perfect replicas of what the kids envisioned.

“The success of this parade and the costumes couldn’t have happened without TUD students and lecturers volunteering.

“We received funding from the N-TUTORR project as well as generous help from Google and Project Management Group.

“Some may have even called it magic. Students and lecturers were thrilled to be involved in such an exciting and fulfilling event.

“From all at LauraLynn and TUD: ‘Witching you were here!’”

For full access to all content on Echo.ie and to support the continuation of local news and local journalism in your community subscribe HERE.

Thanks for your ongoing support.