Thank you Fallon & Byrne

We are delighted to announce that Fallon & Byrne have very kindly and generously sponsored the Christmas Hampers for all our seriously injured players this year!

Every Christmas all of the seriously injured amateur rugby players receive a Christmas Hamper from the Charitable Trust packed full of yuletide treats.  This year the Hampers will be even better as Fallon & Byrne have gone out of their way to source local artisan Irish produce from across the four provinces ensuring our injured players and their families experience exceptional festive goodies from around the Island of Ireland.

Goodies include the luxurious award winning Micil Irish Cream from Connemara, an indulgent Hot Chocolate Swirl Stick from multi-award winning Aine Chocolates in Cavan, perfect with Ditty’s handmade traditional Irish Oatcakes from Castledawson in Northern Ireland.  More award winning treats including the divine Skellig chocolates from Kerry and the mouth-watering Achill Island Sea Salt Fudge – which will go very nicely with Kilbeggan Small Batch Rye whiskey from Westmeath also in the Hamper.  In addition to Fallon and Byrne’s very own artisan products including their must-have festive mince pies.

It’s not all foods and beverages though!  Each Christmas Hamper will also have a luxurious Conscious Convert Throw, Handmade Soap Company Christmas Diffuser & Candle, signed book from Amy Huberman ‘The Day I go trapped in my Brain’ and Ian McKinley’s book ‘Second Sight’, a set of Apple Airpods, as well as a firm favourite – the IRFU Calendar!

The Charitable Trust Hamper has become synonymous with Christmas for a lot of our seriously injured players and their families.  Including Brendan Glynn from Mallow who tells us: “The hamper at Christmas is fantastic – the kids – it’s one of the milestones of Christmas when the hamper arrives.  We all have to be together to open it.  We are not allowed open it on our own!” And listen to Mark Governey from Lansdowne, as he talks about the Hampers in the adjacent video, kindly created by our partner Get Broadcasting.

The late Paddy Madigan will always be associated with the introduction of the annual Christmas Hampers.  For those of you who knew Paddy, you will have fond memories of his involvement with the Charitable Trust.  Paddy always had the welfare and interests of our injured players at heart and would be overjoyed to hear Brendan’s and Mark’s words, as well as many others.  It was Paddy’s idea to ensure the Hampers gave the injured players something a little bit special for Christmas that the whole family could enjoy.  Your idea lives on Paddy – thank you.