Tom MacMahon tells the story of SUNSHINE HOUSE, the SVP’S County Dublin Holiday Home for Children
If you could make a difference to a child’s life, you would, wouldn’t you? Especially if doing so involved just a week of your time and could be enjoyable as well as hugely rewarding. That is probably why The Sunshine Fund has been so well supported by members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the wider public for over eighty years.
Living conditions in Dublin’s slums of the 1920s and 30s were notoriously poor, overcrowded, unsanitary, dark and dangerous. Children were disproportionately affected, with infant mortality high, tuberculosis and measles rife and malnutrition common, so much so that the death rate resembled Calcutta’s.
Then, as now, SVP Conferences were overwhelmed by the needs of families throughout the capital; simultaneously a number of local youth clubs tried to cater for the burgeoning population of children by organising activities, sports and educational programmes. However, in 1928 a group of dedicated SVP members recognised that providing holidays away from the city would be just as valuable, where young people could benefit from fresh air, sunshine, nutritious food and most importantly a time to play and to be children. Through their foresight, the Conference of the Infant Jesus of Prague, better known as The Sunshine Fund, was born.
Kilcullen, Co. Kildare was the initial venue for a series of weekend picnics. Then in 1929 and for the following few years, we switched to bringing children on day trips to Gormanston Strand, Co. Meath, only twenty miles from Dublin, yet a world away from their everyday lives.
Encouraged by these early successes and anxious to respond further to the need they saw around them, Conference members became more ambitious and developed plans to offer week-long holidays. The difficult task of fundraising began in 1935 with the first issue of the Advocate Paper and accompanying church collection, which raised £300, a considerable sum at the time. Not keen to wait while searching for a suitable permanent venue, we hosted our first holiday that same year in a disused wing of Loughlinstown Hospital, South Dublin. This was a new experience for the boys who had the first week’s holiday of their lives. Soon after, Rochfort House, a former Church of Ireland rectory in Balbriggan, North Dublin, was purchased, re-named Sunshine House and renovations began, allowing holidays at this dedicated facility to begin soon afterwards.
The scarcities of “the Emergency” of the World War Two years brought fresh challenges, as children had to bring their ration tickets with them to allow the SVP to buy the food that would be needed during the holiday. Recognition also spread, as our name cropped up in a 1945 Dáil debate on tuberculosis sanatoria and the benefits of fresh air.
The years passed and the slums were slowly cleared, but the need for Sunshine House remained. With the 1970s and ‘80s came the spectres of drug addiction and mass unemployment, casting long shadows over many neighbourhood. Sunshine House continued its unbroken service to young people across the city. Thanks to generous benefactors, we were able to keep pace with progress by upgrading our facilities, including adding a new dormitory wing in 1951, an indoor play centre in 1972, upgraded sports hall in the 1990s and extensive play centre refurbishments in 2003.
While smaller numbers of children were hosted in the early years of the twenty-first century, our current economic conditions have led to resurgence in demand, which is now as strong as ever.
Nevertheless, despite the changes each decade brings, our purpose hasn’t altered: to organise eight-day long seaside breaks (Saturday-to-Saturday) for boys and girls living in areas of disadvantage who might otherwise never get a holiday. Every summer, groups of up to 100 children aged between 7 and 11 travel with us each week for the duration of the holiday season, which normally runs from late May to late August each year.
Last year we entertained over 1,200 young people. Our team of about 150 SVP volunteers of all ages and walks of life make this possible. They give up a full week of their time to care for and play with our young guests, entertaining them from when they wake up until they go to bed by organising football and basketball leagues, sandcastle competitions, marathons, arts and crafts, treasure hunts and a whole range of other activities. A simple but successful formula, enjoyed by generations of young people.
But what is it that makes Sunshine such as special place for over 100,000 children who have passed through our doors?
We believe it is our unique tradition of care that aims to provide each young guest with the holiday of a lifetime, care that equals if not exceeds that provided at home.
However, in the face of increasing demand and reducing fundraising income, continuing to ensure that the youngest in our community don’t miss out on what many of us take for granted is our major ongoing challenge, but one to which we intend to rise.
----------- COMMENTS ABOUT SUNSHINE HOUSE ------------
From Parents/guardians
“I can tell you there is not only two things (good things) about Sunshine, there is a million; my kids wouldn’t go with anybody for more than one night at home, but at Sunshine they would go a week without not even thinking of me. “
“I love that I really felt like my son was safe. I would also like to thank you so much for allowing my child to go. He loves every bit of it, so thanks once again.”
“It was a free holiday that gave me and my partner time together which we don’t get; it was a chance for my child to take responsibility for herself without us there and to mix with other children.”
“My daughters get to stay for a week independent without me. There was no boring time for them, they were always engaged in different activities. They got to make friends.”
“My son got an opportunity to go and he had an absolutely brilliant time – he’s still talking about it!”
“Your children are in the best capable hands and you would be depriving the child of not only a holiday but a life changing experience (if you didn’t let them go).”
From the Children
- “The best bits are that we do loads of fun things.”
- “I loved my holiday, can’t wait to come back.”
- “I liked the whole lot.”
- “I love playing on the swings.”
Contacts for The Sunshine Fund,
SVP House,
91-92 Seán MacDermott Street,
Dublin 1.
www.sunshinefund.ie
sunshine@svpdublin.ie
Phone 01-8198430, Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:30PM, February to September