Bear-ing Gifts: Limerick hurlers bring Christmas cheer to children's ward

TWO Limerick hurlers swapped their hurleys for teddy bears this Christmas Eve when they gifted ‘Bunda Bears’ to children spending the big day in a hospital bed.

Darragh O’Donovan and Kyle Hayes didn’t have as far to travel as Santa with their sacks full of cuddly companions as their food establishment, Bunda Brothers, is only a stone's throw from University Hospital Limerick in Dooradoyle.

“This Christmas Eve, we’re spreading a little extra love and joy!” read the post on the business’s Instagram account.

“Our team at Bunda Brothers had the honour of donating ‘Bunda Bears’ to all the amazing kids at the Children’s Ark in University Hospital Limerick today. These cuddly companions are sure to bring smiles and warmth to all the little ones this holiday season,” the post continued.

Darragh, who hails from the home of current county champions, Doon, and Kyle of the Kildimo-Pallaskenry club, marked the official opening of the food establishment last month.

Their kind gesture on Christmas Eve lit up the faces of the little children who haven’t been able to enjoy Christmas Day at home with their loved ones.

The players handed out the gifts and chatted with the youngsters and staff as they prepared to make Christmas Day as special as they could for the children. 

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Darragh and Kyle aren’t the only famous sports stars to pay a special visit to sick children this Christmas - earlier in the week members of the Munster rugby team, who face Leinster in a sold-out Thomond Park this Friday, also dropped by the Children's Ark paediatric unit to add some festive cheer.

"We had the pleasure of meeting the fantastic staff and wonderful young patients," Munster Rugby posted online.