Building apprentices deliver handmade toys to Limerick kids for Christmas

HANDCRAFTED wooden toys are to be delivered to schools, children’s hospitals and charities across Limerick in the run up to Christmas. 

Construction company, John Sisk & Son, is delivering more than 500 handcrafted wooden toys across Ireland and the United Kingdom during the festive period.

The wooden toys, handmade by Sisk apprentice carpenters and joiners, will be delivered to the Children’s Ark Unit at the University Hospital Limerick (UHL), Enable Ireland, St Gabriel’s in Dooradoyle and Our Lady of Lourdes Childworld Creche. 

The John Sisk & Son Christmas Toy Project was started by John G Sisk more than 40 years ago.

The project is a longstanding tradition that has gone from strength to strength over the past 40 years, according to training centre manager Dave Tracey.

“The toys are handmade by our apprentice carpenters and joiners, utilising the skills taught to them at our training centre in Dublin. The toys are donated to deserving causes all around Ireland, the UK and further afield. This our way of giving something back to the communities that have supported us throughout the year.”

The work on the toys begins in mid-November and takes up to five weeks to complete, with all staff and management in the training centre getting involved.

The apprentices involved, some dressed as Santa, the load the toys into vans and deliver them to the various charities around the country.