The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
WOODEN replicas of Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer will provide a financial boost to two charities this Christmas, thanks to the efforts of an O’Briensbridge duo.
Former O’Briensbridge community group chairman, Jack Byrnes has been busy making wooden Christmas reindeer for charity from his workshop at the rear of his home with the help of young Mark Ryan.
They are planning to make 50 wooden reindeer, which are ready to be distributed to people who ordered them.
Up to €1,000 will be raised for Focus Ireland and the Clare Ground Search and Rescue team.
Focus Ireland is a housing and homelessness charity working to prevent people becoming, remaining or returning to homelessness through the provision of quality services, supported housing, research and advocacy.
Jack makes the reindeer, while his ten-year-old helper from Ardnataggle, O’Briensbridge does the polishing, painting and nails the eyes in place.
Jack explained that Mark does all the work he can do safely but the plan is he will be able to complete all the manufacturing process when he gets older.
“The reindeer are built to a higher standard now and they will last a lot longer. Young children can sit on top of the reindeer as they are really solid. Next year, we are planning to sell the reindeer in the farmers’ markets.
“Mark is an intelligent young man who is very interested in engineering. My wife, Stacia used to mind Mark when he was a young child as she is a child minder.
“As Mark got older, he used to follow me around the workshop and became familiar with what I was doing. Mark came up with the idea to make these reindeer and I got the bug when I took it on. I never did timber work, it was all steel work.
“As a fitter, I developed a taste for making things. I did a bit of carpentry over the years. This project took on a life of its own. It was a case of trial and error until I perfected it.
“I would be handy enough with my hands but not brilliant. I would have been in the middle of the carpentry class at secondary school. I wasn’t top of the class in vocational school.
“My father, John was a handy man and a brilliant carpenter. I used to do a lot of work with him as well,” he said.
The reindeer are made from ash supplied free of charge from Joan and Mossie O’Shea in Bridgetown.
Now in its third year, the manufacturing process has been refined to make one wooden reindeer in about 20 minutes.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, Mark, who is in Fourth Class in Bridgetown National School, recalled they made reindeer for their friends and family for the first year and then introduced the charity element for the last two years.
“I really enjoy working on the reindeer. I first got the idea from YouTube three years ago. The first year we made 12 reindeer. We sold these reindeer mostly to family and donated the money. Last year, we raised €800 and gave it to Focus Ireland.
“I am learning and Jack is teaching me. I paint, prepare materials and clean the timber. I will learn how to do more until I can make a complete reindeer.”
Mark was a regular in Jack’s house for about four years as his wife, Stacia used to mind him when he was a young child until he went to pre-school.
“Christmas is a time for children to receive presents, but Mark wants to give money to charity. Mark’s attitude is great. He would amaze you. Mark came into us as a baby and we watched him grow.
“From a very young age you could see there was something different with Mark. He had something extra.
“I was rebuilding the garden when Mark would come up with an easy way of doing a job and I would be thinking ‘why didn’t I think of that’. He could be an engineer when he grows up, said Jack, recalling that the pair had made a wheelbarrow together.
Jack said providing their fairy garden at the back of his house was Mark’s idea. When Mark was just six years of age he made a fairy house for the fairy garden.
Mark also plays Gaelic football for Meelick, and is blessed with a powerful left leg.
Meanwhile, local children will be invited to visit Santa’s Grotto at the rear of Jack’s home on Saturday, December 3.
