Spreading Christmas cheer with wooden toys
By Maurice Garvey
APPRENTICE carpenters at construction giant John Sisk & Son spread a bit of Christmas cheer after delivering some 500 handcrafted wooden toys to children in need.
The Clondalkin firm is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year and has been building toys for children in need every Christmas for over 40 years.
Sean Nolan (John Sisk & Son), with Holly Mahoney, (age 7), from Tallaght, Hailey Hickey (age 14 months) from Tallaght and Joanne McClelland, Play Specialists at Children’s Health Ireland, Tallaght University Hospital
The toys were handmade over the past month by apprentice carpenters and joiners at the company’s workshop on the Naas Road, and delivered this week to children at CHI in Tallaght University Hospital.
Steve Bowcott, Chief Executive Officer, John Sisk & Son, said: “Over the past year we have been celebrating our 160th anniversary and reflecting on the many successes and achievements we have enjoyed as a business.
One of our greatest success stories during that time has been our ability to give back to the many communities in which we work through our long-standing Sisk Christmas toy story.
“The toys are handmade by our apprentice carpenters and joiners, utilising the skills taught to them at our training centre.
Jack Ledwith with Holly Mahoney and Joanne McClelland
The toys are donated to deserving causes all around Ireland and the UK.
“This is our way of giving something back to the communities that have supported us throughout the year, and something we as a business look forward to every Christmas.”
Speaking about the toy delivery, Dr Ciara Martin, Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine, CHI at Tallaght, said: “On behalf of Children’s Health Ireland, I would like to express my gratitude to Sisk and all the apprentice carpenters and joiners for the joy they have provided our young patients and their families this Christmas.”
Enjoying the toys – Samantha, Hailey and Jason Hickey
Dave Tracey, Sisk Training Centre Manager, said: “The apprentices of today will be the people building the Ireland of tomorrow, so it’s great that they can be the driving force in such an important project at such an early stage in their careers.”
