Event - Family Easter Experience 2007

March 31st 2007 - Inishowen Kindergarten fundraiser, the Family Easter Experience, was enjoyed Saturday March 31st by over twenty families from all across the peninsula. There was a Shadow Puppet Show in St Eugene's Hall, an Egg Hunt on the upper Green, a picnic followed by musical entertainment and, all carried out in glorious sunshine. There was an Egg and Spoon race for the children and one for the parents, followed by more games on the Green. The last of the outdoor activities was the raffle draw, then it was back to the Hall again for a session of Easter craft-making activities.

The Positive Parenting group who organized it, were very pleased with the €850 raised from the day's events. This will help get the Kindergarten, which is a new community project, off to a good start. They are looking for premises and are getting support from the Donegal County Childcare Committee.

The parents provided a safe space for their children and created a happy and pleasant atmosphere for all involved to welcome in the Spring. The group, which meets weekly in the Hall, prepared for the event by making crafts and dying eggs. The Upper Green (beside the disused Crazy Golf range) was cleaned up by the parents who collected 6 black bin bags full of rubbish before the event and, of course, left the place as they would like to find it - clean and safe.

"We were delighted with the day," said Kathleen O'Hara Farren, founding member of the Inishowen Kindergarten, "and there was a great sense of satisfaction among the group as the children played and parents basked in the warmth of a summer sun. It is a good sign for the future that this newly formed community of families with young children can create such an event together." Co-founder Christina Crawford continued, "The whole event was a great forming experience for our group. We feel invigorated and ready to continue the work of creating the new Kindergarten for our children."

The children were eager to say how much they enjoyed the day. "I loved the egg hunt. I found lots of eggs." "I liked the picnic the best" "I liked getting my face painted". And one young boy was so amazed at the Shadow Puppet Show, all he could say was…"Look!"

The group would like to thank all those who supported and donated time, skills and material/goodies. Thanks to family and friends who bought raffle tickets, Mary McKinney from Serenity House, Inishowen Free Range Egg Company, The Bakery in Buncrana, The Farm Shop in Moville, Gillan's Shop, McGrory's of Culdaff, Tanya McColgan, Brendan Farren, The Health Shop in Carndonagh, Joyce and Aidan O'Hara, The Natural Touch in Carndonagh, Maxine and Phil Doherty. Raffle prizes were won by Lisa Bourke, Kathleen O'Hara Farren, Magdalene Matja, Kathleen McColgan, Owen Gillen, Chris Schnurr. The Kindergarten hopes to offer activities for children at the Inishowen Summer Gathering on June 30 on Inch Island.