SOFT Ireland » News

SOFT Ireland and Jack and Jill Sponsored Cycle

frank — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:43:51 +0000

Many thanks to the staff of PWA International, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin who are participating in a sponsored cycle from Rathcoole to Kilkenny on Saturday 11th September. SOFT Ireland member Dermot Wylie and his co-workers are fundraising for SOFT Ireland and the Jack and Jill Foundation. Dermot, his wife Clare and their daughter Louise regularly attend the Spring Break and AGM weekends and Clare is the current secretary of SOFT Ireland. We would like to wish Dermot and the participants the very best of luck.

Next Regional Meeting

frank — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:15:56 +0000

Following the recent regional meeting in Maynooth SOFT Ireland is pleased to announce that we will be holding another regional meeting in the Athlone Springs Hotel on Monday 30th August from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

The get-together is open to members, recently bereaved families and anyone who may have an interest in Soft Ireland and it’s work.

More details will be published closer to the date.

Regional Meeting

frank — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:29:03 +0000

There will be an informal get-together on Wednesday 30th June 2010 in the Kylemore Suite in the Glenroyal Hotel Maynooth, Co Kildare from 6pm to 9pm.

This meeting is open to existing Soft Ireland members, to new families and to anyone who may have an interest in finding out more about the work of Soft Ireland. Please feel free to drop in, pick up a copy of our booklet ‘Why Our Baby’, have a chat and a cuppa!

frank — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:34:16 +0000

Just a reminder that the closing date for inclusion of articles in the next newsletter is the 31st July 2010.

If you have anything you would like included please e-mail details to soft.newsletter@yahoo.ie or by post to Terry Matthews, Steeple View, Strabannon, Castlebellingham, Co. Louth.

Spring 2010 Newsletter

frank — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:22:25 +0000

The Spring 2010 Newsletter has just arrived hot off the press. We will be posting it to members in the next few weeks. Inside the back cover is a Membership Application Form. These forms were sent out in December of last year. However only a small number were returned. Due to the cost involved in producing the newsletter, we will in future only be sending it and other correspondence to registered members. So if you wish to continue receiving the newsletter and other SOFT Ireland info please complete the membership form and return it to Fiona Hennessy at the address printed on the form.

Thanks to Newsletter Co-Ordinator Terry Matthews and Editor John Lambert for the wonderful work that went into the newsletter. However the newsletter can only be as good as you the members make it. If you have anything you would like to include in the next edition – stories, poems, reports and pictures of fundraising events, family announcements -please forward to John by e-mail at chequerboard@gmail.com or to Terry at soft.newsletter@yahoo.ie or by post to Terry Matthews,Steepleview, Stabannon, Castlebellingham, Co. Louth.

Spring Break 2010

frank — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 20:02:16 +0000

As you are aware we had our Spring Break in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon in March this year. Thanks to Danny Rispin and Ian O’Brien,our Spring Break/AGM sub committee, for organising the weekend and also to anyone who helped out before and during the weekend. The Abbeyfield Hotel was ideally located and was fully booked for the event with additional members also accommodated in a local B & B. Many thanks to all the families who joined us over the weekend.

With no scheduled activities on the Saturday families were free to enjoy the hotel facilities or visit local attractions such as Lough Key Forest Park, Boyle Abbey and Knock Shrine.

Michael Roche collected €2 from everyone present at the dinner on Saturday night and played the Lotto. Although we didn’t win the jackpot we came close…..with the princely sum of €15. Ian and Jackie O’Brien organised a short table quiz for after dinner and this proved a big hit with both adults and children. The eventual winners being ‘Louise’s Lot’ with Louise Wylie leading her team to glory! We also had a raffle for numerous prizes which raised €595 for SOFT funds.

On Sunday morning we remembered our special children with poems, verses and songs. We also had a balloon release. We finished the weekend with refreshments and were delighted to wish our long-term member Elaine Fagan a very happy 24th birthday, which she celebrated on March 21st. Thank you to all our families for participating.

Although our meal on Saturday evening was very disappointing, overall the weekend went well. I hope everyone who attended enjoyed the break and I look froward to seeing you all at future events.

Carmel Reilly.
Chairperson.

frank — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:23:20 +0000

The closing date for inclusion of articles and photos in the next newsletter is fast approaching. If you have anything you would like to include in the next newsletter – photos, stories, family announcements or news atricles which may be of interest to other SOFT members – please e-mail them to Terry Matthews, the newsletter co-ordinator, at soft.newsletter@yahoo.ie before 31st January.

Committee Meetings

frank — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:02:30 +0000

Just a quick reminder that the next general committe meeting will be held on the 30th January in O’Loughlins Hotel, Portlaoise at 11:30 sharp.

If you are unable to attend please contact the Chairperson, Carmel Reilly or the Secretary, Clare Carty in advance of the meeting.

The remainder of the meetings will be held in March, June, September and at the AGM.

Exact dates will be posted here when available.

Christmas Greetings

frank — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:33:52 +0000

Dear Members,

As you probably know 2009 was a busy year for SOFT Ireland and we are delighted to have achieved so much. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for their help and support during the year and look forward to working together in 2010.

Many of our members suffered bereavements during the year and this will be a difficult and emotional time for them. We should also remember the families who have been affected by Pataus and Edwards Syndrome and heard about these conditions and SOFT Ireland for the first time. As you light your candles for your own special child this year, please think of these families also.

The newly designed Christmas cards have been very well received this year and I would like to thank all those who participated in the competition and congratulate all the winners.

As ever, fundraising is a very inportant part of our organisation. Thank you to all those who organised and / or supported fundraising events or made donations last year. We would not be able to continue to support our members and new families without your continued contributions.

We published our first newsletter in almost 2 years and you should have received this in September. Closing date for receipt of articles, stories, photos etc for the next issue is January 31st 2010 and all items should be sent to our newsletter co-ordinator Terry Matthews (soft.newsletter@yahoo.ie)

I hope you, your families and friends enjoy the Christmas season and wish you all the best for 2010. I look forward to seeing you at SOFT Ireland events during the year.

Carmel Reilly
Chairperson

Christmas Cards

frank — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:52:35 +0000

Just a reminder that our Christmas Cards are still available.

The new design cards are available in variety packs of 10 – 1 of each design – for €7.50 or individual designs may be purchased for €1.00 each or 6 for €5.00.

Please contact Michael & Michelle Griffin at 044-9335674 or mobile 087-9693850.

You can also place your orders by e-mail. The address for all merchandise enquiries is soft.merchandise@yahoo.ie