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Always the Two of Us – new documentary theatre on growing up in a one-parent family in Ireland

Press Release,

Wednesday 7^th  June,
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The Ark Children’s Cultural Centre and One Family – Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families, are delighted to announce the free, rehearsed reading of Always the Two of Us, by Kate Heffernan taking place tomorrow Thursday 8^th June at 6pm at The Ark in Temple Bar. The new piece of documentary theatre looks behind the curtains of Irish family life at the real life experiences of adults who grew up in one-parent families during the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s; a time when these families often faced shame and scorn.
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One Family CEO, Karen Kiernan said, “This is such an important piece of theatre, to be able to tell the often-hidden stories of children (now adults) who grew up on one-parent families in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. We’ve heard the harrowing stories of the mother and baby homes and the laundries, but Kate has managed to capture the complex range of experiences of children in these homes, the love, the laughter, the shade and the light that comes through. The piece was commissioned to celebrate our 50th anniversary and we want to say a huge thanks to Kate and The Ark for the tremendous amount of work that went into this piece.”
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Aideen Howard, Director of the Ark said, “The Ark makes art for by, about and with children. While most of our programme is created for children we also commission work for a grown up audience about the experience of children and childhood. We were delighted to commission playwright Kate Heffernan to create The Ark’s first work of documentary theatre which will be presented as a reading directed by Maisie Lee and read by an outstanding cast. It was a privilege to work together with One Family whose championing of the rights of children. parents and diverse families is an inspiration to us.”
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Always the Two of Us was commissioned by The Ark and One Family, this new documentary theatre script has emerged from conversations with men and women, of varying ages, and from both urban and rural backgrounds. In this rehearsed reading directed by Maisie Lee, actors Catherine Byrne, Lewis Harris, Genevieve Hulme Beaman, Lauren Larkin and John Olohan will read multiple roles to share their stories and experiences.

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For Editors:

The Ark is a dedicated cultural centre for children. We create opportunities for children, along with their families and friends or with their school, to discover and love art. Through our work with leading Irish and international artists children can enjoy performances in our unique child-sized theatre, view engaging exhibitions or participate in creative workshops.

One Family was founded in 1972 as Cherish and is Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families and people sharing parenting or separating, offering support, information and services to all members of all one-parent families, to those sharing parenting, to those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and to professionals working with one-parent families. Children are at the centre of One Family’s work and the organisation helps all the adults in their lives, including mums, dads, grandparents, step-parents, new partners and other siblings, offering a holistic model of specialist family support services.

These services include the lo-call askonefamily national helpline on 0818 66 22 12, counselling, and provision of training courses for parents and for professionals. For further information, visit www.onefamily.ie. The askonefamily helpline can be contacted on 0818 66 22 12 or 01-6629212.

For further information on Always the Two of Us click here

Available for Interview

Karen Kiernan, CEO | t: 086 850 9191

Further Information/Scheduling

Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
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Researchers from University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin will today launch a research report documenting the lived experiences of Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) recipients. The research, conducted in association with One Family, will  explore how JST is working ‘on the ground’.  As JST is a relatively new payment in the Irish social welfare system, little is known about how it is experienced by recipients. Furthermore, because people living in single parent households are consistently over-represented in poverty statistics across all metrics (at risk of poverty, enforced deprivation and consistent poverty), how caregivers in one-parent households experience a policy that is designed with such households in mind represents important work.

To read the report:

In Transit Research Report

To read the briefing paper:

In Transit Policy Briefing

Read the information leaflet:

JST – Information leaflet

To view a recording of the event:

Recording of the Research Launch
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[av_heading heading=’The Ark and One Family warmly invite you to this rehearsed reading of Always the Two of Us, a new play for grown-ups by Kate Heffernan that shares real life stories from adults who grew up in one parent families.’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote classic-quote classic-quote-left’ subheading_active=” show_icon=” icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ size=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” subheading_size=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” icon_size=” av-medium-font-size-1=” av-small-font-size-1=” av-mini-font-size-1=” color=” custom_font=” subheading_color=” seperator_color=” icon_color=” margin=” margin_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ icon_padding=’10’ headline_padding=” headline_padding_sync=’true’ link=” link_target=” id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_uid=’av-lhszr4rb’ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]

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What was it like to grow up in a single parent household in the 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s? At a time when such families were still something of a rarity, and often regarded by society with a degree of disapproval or even shame? What challenges did they face? And what joys did they find?

Moving house, starting school, making friends, facing fears, and finding our place in the world—the play explores how our childhood shapes the adults we become. Provoking laughter and tears, Always the Two of Us brings a diversity of stories to the stage, exploring love, loss, family and friendship.

Commissioned by The Ark and One Family, this new documentary theatre script has emerged from conversations with men and women, of varying ages, and from both urban and rural backgrounds. In this rehearsed reading, a diverse group of five actors will read multiple roles to share their stories and experiences.
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Video and Resources are now available from our Building a Family Law System for Separating Families Webinar. Click here for more…
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Press Release,
Tuesday, 13 September, 2022.

New guidelines for one-parent families and public bodies have been launched today by Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), Sinéad Gibney. The guidelines were developed by One Family – Ireland’s national organisation for people parenting alone, sharing parenting and separating and are based on the voices and experiences of rights holders who participated in the research.
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Speaking at the launch, IHREC Chief Commissioner, Sinéad Gibney said, “The guidelines launched today will give parents guidance on their rights and importantly, will give public sector organisations a framework for protecting the human rights of one-parent families. Public sector organisations have an obligation to abide by the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty and ensure discrimination, if it does occur, is addressed promptly and transparently. One parent families deserve to be treated with respect and equality. These guidelines give parents a clear roadmap to address their concerns if they feel they have been discriminated against.”
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Niamh Kelly, One Family, Policy Manager said, “Listening to the experiences of people parenting alone has shown that while there is some good practice in providing services to one-parent families in public bodies, some public sector organisations are falling short of fulfilling their commitment to the Public Sector Duty and discrimination against one-parent families does unfortunately still occur. Parents told us they want to be treated with the respect and dignity their family deserves, they want equality for their family and an understanding by those working in public bodies of the unique challenges facing one-parent families. Our aim with the Human Rights, Equality and One-Parent Family guidelines is to bridge the gap in parents’ knowledge of their rights and protections under legislation and in public bodies’ understanding of the realities for people in one-parent families and help them fulfil their obligations under the Public Sector Duty.”
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Quotes from parents participating in the research:

The positive:
“My Department of Social Protection Case Officer was professional, kind and insightful…she recognised and acknowledged my previous skills, training and education.”
“When I split up with my child’s Dad, I had to get on to Revenue….and there was just somebody on the phone, and they were just really human. Just like “Oh, well, I hope you’re okay now”, you know… it was just a really human interaction.”

The negative:
“I was pregnant, I had nowhere to live, I was a nervous wreck. And I went into the services for support, and a man just looked at me with such contempt and he said, “You’re not going to get yourself a house now, just because you’ve gotten yourself into a stupid situation.”
“The woman I was speaking to and was referred to said to me it is my own fault, that if I didn’t have my child, I could have a career. That was it. I left the meeting, and I complained.”
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For Editors:
One Family was founded in 1972 as Cherish and is Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families and people sharing parenting or separating, offering support, information and services to all members of all one-parent families, to those sharing parenting, to those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and to professionals working with one-parent families. Children are at the centre of One Family’s work and the organisation helps all the adults in their lives, including mums, dads, grandparents, step-parents, new partners and other siblings, offering a holistic model of specialist family support services.

Link to guidelines:

Guide for parents:

Guide for public sector bodies:

More information on the Public Sector Human Rights and Equality Duty:

Public Sector Human Rights and Equality Duty:

These services include the lo-call askonefamily national helpline on 0818 66 22 12, counselling, and provision of training courses for parents and for professionals. For further information, visit www.onefamily.ie. The askonefamily helpline can be contacted on 0818 66 22 12 or 01-6629212

For further information visit: www.onefamily.ie

Available for Interview
Niamh Kelly, Policy Manager | t: 01-6629212

Further Information/Scheduling
Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
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On Tuesday, 13 September, One Family will host an online seminar exploring the experiences of one-parent families who access public services. The seminar will examine how the Public Sector ​Human Rights and Equality Duty can prevent discrimination and protect human rights. At the event One Family will launch two new evidence-based guidelines, one for parents and one for the public sector, aimed at improving the experiences of people in one-parent families when interacting with public services.

As well as a presentation on the research underpinning the guidelines, the seminar will also hear from parents about their experiences and what they believe should happen next.

For more information and details click here:
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2nd Annual Sherie de Burgh Commemorative Event

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We are pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Sherie de Burgh Commemorative Event in memory of our friend and former colleague Sherie de Burgh. On Monday 15 February 2021, her fourth anniversary,  One Family in partnership with Dr Catherine Conlon, School of Social Work and Social Policy, TCD will host an online cultural event entitled Artistic Responses to Reproductive (in)Justice.
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• Alison Lowry, glass artist, will discuss her exhibition (A)Dressing our Hidden Truths, an artistic response to the legacy of Magdalene Laundries and Mother and Baby Homes in Ireland opened at The National Museum of Ireland in March 2019.
• Catherine Conlon discussing collaboration with Opera composer Evangelia Rigaki (TCD) to produce The Pregnant Box, seven miniature operas with a wandering choir out of her PhD research exploring narratives of women concealing pregnancy in contemporary Ireland.
• Kate Antosik-Parsons (TCD) Art Historian talking talking about her recent paper on ‘Haptic Touch’ examining Pauline Cummin’s Becoming Beloved (1995) and Sarah Browne and Jesse Jones’ The Touching Contract (2016), two performance-based artworks located in Dublin maternity hospitals to discuss how Irish performance art has responded to the political, social and cultural climate of restrictions on women’s bodies.
• We will also have readings from writer Molly Hennigan and photographic artist Dorje de Burgh.

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Date: Monday, 15 February 2021

Time: 7.00pm

Location: Via Zoom
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To register, email info@onefamily.ie 
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We will also be providing an update on the Sherie de Burgh Memorial Fund here
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Watch Sherie’s 2nd Annual Commemorative Event here

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The wonderful GLOW returns to Smithfield Square this Saturday 9 December from 2-6pm! One Family is delighted to be part of a line-up of amazing free family fun that includes Lords of Strut, illustrator Chris Judge, Maynooth Gospel Choir, Kidisco, Brown Bag Films, Light House Cinema, Brian Daly Magician and much more.

Join us inside the GLOW tent to make beautiful paper lanterns with artist Maeve Clancy to decorate the One Family Tree, celebrating all families in all shapes and sizes.

To find out more about GLOW visit https://www.facebook.com/grasshopperevents

Hope to see you there!

Yesterday was an emotional day for us and our guests who joined us for our Open Day, and for our evening Reception, as we wish farewell to our beloved home for over 40 years, Cherish House, in advance of our move to Smithfield next month and also celebrate 45 years since the founding of Cherish/One Family.

Our first President, Mary Robinson and our current president, Mary Henry, joined our founders, Board members, current and past staff, clients, friends and colleagues to view an exhibition, “Letters from our Mothers”. It features a selection of letters we received from women all over the country who were pregnant or mothers and unmarried, and their mothers, throughout the 1970s.

Are you a lone parent who would like the opportunity to meet other people parenting alone or sharing parenting after separation? Would you like your children to interact with others of the same age? Then join us this summer on any of our Social Group Summer Outings for a fun and affordable day out for your family. See below for more details.

1. Airfield Estate & Pet Farm UPDATE: This outing is now booked out.

When: Thursday 17th of August

Meet at: Airfield, Overend Way, Dundrum, Dublin 14

Time: Meet at entrance @11am sharp

Cost: €5 per adult/parent

2. Dublin Zoo UPDATE: This outing is now booked out.

When: Thursday 24th of August

Meet at: Dublin Zoo

Time: Meet at Group Entrance Gate @ 11am sharp

Cost: €5 per person

Children 3 years and under are Free

How to book

To join us, email Margareth Petroli or call 01 662 9212. Mention the outing you would like to attend, provide your name and contact number and the names and ages of your children.

These social group outings are open to anyone who is parenting alone, and One Family subsidises costs so that they are free or low-cost for families attending. As capacity is limited, places will first be allocated to current clients of One Family if demand is very high. Please note, if you are not currently a client of One Family, you will be asked to complete a registration form.

Visit One Family on Facebook for updates on each event.

Family Day 2016 takes place again this Sunday from 11am-5pm in Dublin’s Wolfe Tone Square (beside Jervis St centre).

Family Day is a day of free, fun, family friendly entertainment and activities to mark International Day of the Family. Come along and celebrate your family. We have lots happening during the day including:

Laugh

Family Day MC, the amazing magician Brian Daly, hosts shows throughout the day at the stage area. Professor plunger will be bringing his special show too.

We are also delighted to welcome comedian Joe Rooney to Family Day. His show will be one not to miss!

Create

Help One Family to set a record by creating the magical ‘Ireland’s Biggest Family Tree’.

Create an interactive swaying ‘Caterpillar’ with Happenings and Upon a Tree.

Make your mark on the beautiful Little Handprints Banner.

Visit the Pop-Up Print Shop and have fun with the National Print Museum.
 

Play

Visit the One Family tent for face painting, balloon modelling and more throughout the day.

Say hello to DublinTown Ambassadors, enjoy giant games and grab a balloon.

Delve into an Edwardian experience with the Dublin City Council Library Learning Bus.

Have fun with traditional street games, and even more giant-sized games in the pop-up play area.

Don’t miss Cineworld’s costumed friends. Take a selfie with them; enjoy free popcorn, and more.
 

Grown Up Stuff

One Family (onefamily.ie) — Information on supports and services for one-parent families, people sharing parenting, and separating.

TUSLA (tusla.ie/parenting-24-seven) Visit the TUSLA tent for information on Parenting24seven, an online resource on what works best for children and families and different stages of childhood and in different situations, which supports parents to improve outcomes for children.

Parentline (parentline.ie) Parentline is a free and completely confidential helpline for parents offering support, guidance and information on all aspects of being a parent.

Visit www.familyday.ie for all the information you need

Follow us on Facebook for up to the minute announcements! https://www.facebook.com/OneFamilyIreland/

This event is supported by Dublin City Council and DublinTown.

 Join our annual toy appeal and make a real difference this Christmas. By organising a collection of toys in your workplace you can help us make Christmas a little bit easier for the families we work with. As we all know, Christmas can be a time of stress and worry for many parents but in particular for families who are on a strict budget that doesn’t allow for presents.

In December One Family host a winter party for the children and each child receives a gift from Santa. We rely on generous donations from people like you to make this party a magical and memorable time for the children.

It’s easy for your company to take part. Just contact Geraldine to register your interest and we can provide you with everything you need to make your toy appeal run smoothly in your workplace.

On Tuesday 21 October we present a seminar entitled Positive Parenting for Changing Families in Dublin Castle. Of particular interest to those working with children, families and/or in the sector, we will celebrate National Parents Week (20-26 October 2014) while reviewing the importance of a Positive Parenting approach with a range of experts. We will also launch our updated Positive Parenting for Changing Families manualised programme and offer the opportunity to attend free workshops on how to support diverse family situations.

The panel of expert speakers includes:

• Karen Kiernan, CEO, One Family
• Stella Owens, Centre for Effective Services, Chair of Special Interest Group on Supporting Parents
• Helen Deely, Head of HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme
• Donagh McGowan, Donagh McGowan & Co Solicitors, incoming Chair of the Law Society Family Law Committee and member of the Family Law Court Development Committee
• Niall Egan, Jobseekers and One Parent Family Policy Section, Department of Social Protection

UPDATE

We asked, “What’s the important issue for you around positive parenting for changing families?”

In this short video Donagh McGowan, Solicitor and incoming Chair of the Law Society Family Law Committee and member of the Family Law Court Development Committee, talks about his important issue: how to address the failings of the current family law system.

In this short video Niall Egan of the Department of Social Protection talks about his important issue: the Job Seekers Transition Allowance.

Agenda

1.30pm | Registration & Refreshments

2.00pm-3.00pm | Plenary session chaired by Dr. Anne-Marie Mc Gauran (NESC/One Family Board member).

3.10pm-4.30pm | Workshops – try out two of our four free taster workshops faciliated by One Family’s parenting experts. Choose from: Parenting Through Stressful Times, Making Shared Parenting Work, Making Conflict Healthy, and Supporting Children Through Family Change.

Date: Tuesday 21 October 2014

Time: 1.30pm – 4.30pm

Venue: Bedford Suite, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2

Cost: Free

We invite you to Step Out with One Family and run/walk in the Mini Marathon as part of Team One Family. As Ireland’s leading organisation for people parenting alone and sharing parenting, and in the year of the 20^th anniversary of UN International Year of the Family, we need people more than ever to take part with all funds raised contributing directly towards our work with some of the most vulnerable families in Ireland.

Team One Family participants will receive a sponsorship pack which includes:

• a sponsorship card
• a One Family t-shirt
• and information including Race Hints and Training Ideas

Our offices – Cherish House on Lower Pembroke Street – are on the mini marathon route and just a few minutes from the start and end points. Cherish House serve as a hub for our team on the day: a place to enjoy complementary refreshments, to change, store personal items, and chat.

The Flora Women’s Mini Marathon 2014 is 10K in distance and will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, 2^nd June 2014 at 2.00pm. All participants must enter either through the official Entry Form which will appear in The Herald on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 19^th February and online here.

A convenient way to collect donations from friends/family is through Sponsor.ie, the online fundraising tool that helps you to collect donations for your favourite charities. Sponsor.ie allows you to keep your supporters updated through photos and video and by linking to your existing social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, it’s easy to let everyone know what an amazing thing you’ll be doing.

To set up your own fundraising page click here. To check out One Family’s Sponsor.ie page click here.

For more information, please email Fiona. We look forward to stepping out together!

Our annual Winter Party for current clients and their children took place yesterday in the beautiful Dublin Castle. It was great fun with almost 100 children and their families enthralled by master magician, Brian Daly.  Little faces were painted by our creative staff team; and all kinds of amazing balloon animals and toys created by Cathyrn Alexander. And when Santa arrived there was even more excitement!

Santa had help to fill the One Family Grotto this year with hundreds of toys and gifts collected by the staff of these generous companies to whom we, and Santa and Mrs Claus, are incredibly grateful:

Google: Thank you to Lorna Mellon and Sinéad Gibney and all the Googlers.

Chartered Accountants: Thank you to Gillian Duffy and all the Chartered Accountants team.

Capita Life Pensions: Thank you to Deirdre Lennon and all the Capital Life Pensions team.

HRM Recruit: Thank you to Kasia Bik and all the HRM Recruit team.

Maples and Calder: Thank you to Yvonne Madden and all the Maples and Calder team.

A & L Goodbody: Thank you to Sinéad Smith and all the A & L Goodbody team.

Trinity Access Programme Foundation: Thank you to Sarah Grimson and all of the students.

We are also very grateful to everyone who donated prizes for the parents’ raffle including Jinny Joe’s Baby Massage and Yoga, Tesco Jervis Centre and to Kenna’s Centra, Laurel Lodge who donated goody bags for the children.

Huge thanks to volunteers Cathryn Alexander for ballon modelling and face painting, to Paul Leamy for assisting Santa, and to all One Family staff and volunteers.

Thank you also to Darren Lennox and the Operations team at Dublin Castle Conference Centre for their help in co-ordinating such a wonderful event.

Lastly, thank you to all the children and their families for joining us for the festivities!

One Family invites you to the launch of our Annual Review 2012 and Strategy 2013-2015 on Friday 28 June. The Keynote speaker is Maura O’Dea Richards, One Family founder.

When:           Friday 28th June 2013

Where:         The Pillar Room, Rotunda Hospital, Parnell Square, Dublin 1

Times:          12pm Registration | 12.15pm Start | 1pm Ends

To RSVP, please email info@onefamily.ie or call 01 662 9212 to let us know if you are attending by Tuesday 25th June.

You are also very welcome to stay for the One Family Graduation ceremony from 1.30-3pm to hear from our learners and participants about their achievements in the past year.

Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony.

One Family and Women for Election will co-host the free seminar Engaging Women: Taking the Next Step into Politics on Tuesday 21 May 2013 in European Parliament Offices, 43 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. Registration with tea/coffee opens at 9.30am and the event  runs from 10.00am-1.00pm, with a light lunch to follow.

The keynote speaker is Jessica N. Grounds. Jessica, who was Training Lead for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign for the Iowa Caucuses, has devoted her life to empowering women to become political leaders. She is Executive Director of Running Start which inspires girls and young women to run for elected office; the founder and principal strategist for Solid Grounds Strategy, working with women candidates who have never run for office before; and co-founder of Women’s Campaign Consortium, a collaboration of female campaign consultants dedicated to serving women candidates.

The moderator is Mary Wilson, (Presenter; RTÉ Drivetime). Additional speakers include Ciara Conway T.D.; Rita Fagan, Community Activist; Karen Kiernan, One Family; and Niamh Gallagher, Women for Election.

This free seminar should prove of particular interest to women concerned about Irish society and policies and interested in making a difference but unsure how. It will also interest those who would like to learn more about all the different ways to be more politically active. Presenting the personal journeys of these well-known women who make a difference politically every day of their lives, this lively and informative event will hopefully inspire attendees to plan their own next move.

Jessica Grounds is an Irish Institute exchange speaker. This seminar is co-sponsored by the Irish Institute, Boston College and the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

This is a free event and everyone is welcome to attend but as places are limited, booking is essential. Please complete the booking form to reserve your place by 4.00pm on Thursday 16 May 2013.

UPDATE: Friday, 3 May | This event is now fully booked. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please complete the form below. If places become available we will contact you as soon as possible.

Press Release

ONE FAMILY AND EBS ANNOUNCE

FAMILY DAY CELEBRATIONS

AND NATIONAL ART COMPETITION

Family Day | Sunday, 19 May 2013 | www.familyday.ie 

Celebrate families, celebrate your family.

(Dublin, 18 April 2013) One Family, Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families and EBS celebrate the diversity of families in Ireland with Family Day 2013. This free, family-friendly day out takes place in Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens on Sunday, 19 May from 11am to 5pm. Family Day celebrations also include a national art competition for young people.

Family Day was launched today by Anton Savage of Today FM. All family types are invited to enjoy Family Day including one-parent families, step families, the traditional two-parent married family, adoptive and foster families, blended and extended families, and those with opposite and same sex parents. UN International Day of Families is held on 15 May annually and inspires the Family Day celebration. This is the third year for events to take place in the Iveagh Gardens and it is growing every year, attracting over 5,000 visitors in 2012.

Family Day offers entertainment and fun for all ages. All activities are free. New events specially designed for Family Day in 2013 include a pop-up participatory installation by artist Michelle Browne in partnership with IMMA, which invites families to compete in a buggy assault course.  Michelle is currently in residence at IMMA’s studios and this Family Day event comes from an ongoing research project with mothers who have young children, exploring how they experience and negotiate Dublin city with their buggies.

MC Al Kazam, magician extraordinaire, will enthrall all ages while overseeing the smooth running of the music and dance performances on the stage, and arts workshops from organisations including Fighting Words, Imaginosity and The Ark will intrigue young children and teenagers. The FAI’s goal scoring challenge and a traditional sports arena will keep everyone on their toes and when it’s time to take a well-earned rest, Family Day-goers can enjoy their own picnic or visit the food village on site where tasty treats can be purchased.

This is the fourth year that EBS has partnered with One Family to acknowledge International Day of the Family.  Barry Delaney, Head of EBS Marketing, said: “EBS has worked closely with One Family over the past four years to build and develop a flagship event which celebrates families in Ireland. We are delighted that it continues to get bigger and better every year and that more and more families get to come and celebrate together on this day. The focus on families is in keeping with our positioning as an organisation that is helping all kinds of families get on in life. This is a great partnership for EBS and we are delighted to play a part in its continued success.”

Karen Kiernan, Director of One Family, commented: “One Family has been promoting International Day of the Family in Ireland for the past decade and building on Family Day for the past three years. Mothers’ Day is for mums and Fathers’ Day is for dads but not every child can celebrate those days. Family Day is for everyone to celebrate all types of families. We invite every family, workplace and school in Ireland to celebrate Family Day.”

Those who cannot attend events in the Iveagh Gardens are encouraged to host their own Family Day event which can be included on the Family Day site by emailing details to familyday@onefamily.ie.

The Family Day art competition is open for entries until 31 May 2013 to young people up to the age of 18 with a prize of €500.  Entries can be submitted at local EBS offices nationwide or emailed to familyday@onefamily.ie. Last year over 1,200 entered the art competition with their wonderful family portraits. This year’s theme is ‘My family is …’ Full details are on www.familyday.ie.

Family Day is presented by One Family and EBS, with the support of Today FM, OPW and Dublin City Council.

Further information about Family Day is available on www.familyday.ie.

/Ends.

About One Family

One Family was founded in 1972 and is Ireland’s leading organisation for one-parent families.  It offers support, information and services to all members of all one-parent families, to those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and to those working with one-parent families. Children are at the centre of One Family’s work and the organisation helps all the adults in their lives, including mums, dads, grandparents, step-parents, new partners and other siblings, offering a holistic model of specialist family support services. These services include the lo-call askonefamily national helpline on 1890 622 212, counselling, and training courses for parents and for professionals. www.onefamily.ie.

Listings

Family Day | A celebration of the diversity of the family with entertainment and activities for all ages | Sunday, 19 May 2013 | Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 2 | 11am – 5 pm | Free | 01 662 9212 | www.familyday.ie

Press

Pics released today by Photocall Ireland.

For further information or images, please contact:

Shirley Chance for One Family | t: 01 662 9212 / 087 414 8511 | e: schance@onefamily.ie

Claire McGovern, Q4PR for EBS | t:  086 379 7291