The Tweenies Club celebrated their 10th anniversary with lots of fun for Mums, Dads, Grans and of course the kids. DJ ‘Spill’ aka Claire Regan entertained everyone with music from Thomas the Tank to the Birdy song. Photo: www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Mr. Balloon Man made fantastic shapes with all the coloured balloons, the cup cake station was very popular where the kids made their own cream sprinkled cakes with icing, face-painting, refreshments, teas and coffee, you name it, it was a fun time for all. The organising committee were delighted when the Deputy Mayor of Youghal, Eoin Coyne, helped in cutting the anniversary cake. Great credit to all involved in making the fun day a great success.

The Tweenies Club began in September 2000 and has enjoyed 10 years of success, providing children and their carers and parents with friendship, support and an opportunity to socialise with other families. During that time, hundreds of babies and pre school children with their mums, dads, Grannies and Gran-dads, child minders and au pairs have come along. Families from many countries, Nigeria, Holland, Australia, France, Poland, USA, UK, and counties around Ireland have attended Tweenies – everyone is welcome! The adults stay with the child at the group as Tweenies is as much a group for them as for the children.

Since the first meeting in the hall at the Methodist Church in Youghal, hundreds of children have enjoyed a morning of play, art and singing in a safe child friendly environment. Donna Mitchell and Fiona Murphy, both “blow ins” to the town, set up the group and the first meeting saw 10 children turning up. Over the years there have been many changes – the hall was renovated by the Methodist church providing a modern kitchen and toilet facilities and a storage room for the Tweenies equipment. There has been a succession of new leaders, always on a voluntary basis and usually from the mums who were using the group. The group became very popular and was increased to 2 mornings a week in 2003. The outside space in the yard was also used for outdoor play when the weather allowed. Tweenies also enjoyed activities outside of the hall with a series of summer visits to Fota and Parson’s Green Farm, summer meetings at Green Park and the playground, taking part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade and parents nights out. Christmas was always good fun with usually 2 parties to accommodate all the excited children and of course a visit and photo with Santa.

The Methodist Church have been very supportive of Tweenies and as part of their Outreach work are glad to have the group using the hall and its facilities. The Katherine Howard Foundation provided a grant each year and along with fundraising and subscriptions, the group was able to regularly get new equipment and toys.

A big thanks must be given to everyone who has been involved in making the Tweenies Club a success, all the leaders over the years for their hard work, setting up and clearing away and taking the responsibility for organizing the sessions, the tea makers in the kitchen, the leaders who organized the art sessions, everyone that attended the sessions, the Church for their support, local businesses for sponsorship and of course Santa!

10 years on and the Tweenies Club is still going strong, lets hope children and their parents and carers will find fun and friendship there for many more years to come.
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