Kilkenny foster families unveil Messages of Hope Christmas tree at Market Cross Shopping Centre

Foster families from Carlow and Kilkenny gathered at Market Cross Shopping Centre to launch a special Christmas tree, created to shine a light on the spirit of the season and the transformative power of fostering.

Organised by Tusla Fostering, the tree has been decorated with handwritten messages from children who are currently in foster care and the foster carers who support them. These simple, heartfelt notes offer a glimpse into their hopes, dreams and reflections during the festive period.

Each messages represents not just a wish, but a reminder of the profound difference a stable and caring home can make in a young person’s life. Among the written wishes and thoughts from foster children are:
“I wish I was adopted by my foster mum”
“I wish people would foster care to see how good it is”
“Foster Families are proof that love makes a family”
“To become a lego desighnor (sic)”
“I wish I played for Manchester United and Manchester United win a Premier League or a Champions League”
Messages from foster carers include:
“I hope that my foster child knows there will always be a seat at my table for them”.
“My wish for children in care is to love themselves and believe in themselves”
“I wish for a safe, happy home for all children who need a place for a short time until life improves”

The launch of the tree aims to encourage the local community to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas – kindness, hope and belonging – while also raising awareness about the ongoing need for foster carers.

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Fostering is an extraordinarily generous act performed by ordinary people going that extra mile for young people at a time when they most need help. Across Ireland, 3,793 foster carers currently open their homes to 5,023 children*. Across Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary 205 foster carers open their homes to 315 children.

Speaking at the launch of the fostering Christmas tree, Kaye Fennessy, who is the Tusla Fostering team lead for Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary said: “Christmas is a time when many of us focus on family and togetherness. Our fostering Christmas tree highlights the voices of children who deserve exactly that – a safe, loving home where they can grow, flourish and belong. We hope this display prompts members of the community to consider whether they could make a life-changing difference by fostering.”

Pupils from Mr Deegan’s fifth class at St John’s Senior School in Kilkenny city were in attendance to lend their support to the event and sang some Christmas songs as the tree was switched on.

The initiative also seeks to remind the public that fostering is not just about providing a home; it’s about offering stability, encouragement, and the chance for children to experience the warmth of a family environment – at Christmas and throughout the year.

Tusla Fostering is inviting shoppers and passers-by to visit the tree at Market Cross SC, read the children’s messages, and reflect on the enormous impact they could have on a child’s life by becoming a foster carer.

“Tusla foster carers come from all walks of life. This includes those in same-sex relationships, Travellers, non-Irish nationalities, people from different faiths and beliefs, people who have a disability, jobseekers, renters, single people, people who are over 50 years old, couples who work fulltime, and rural as well as urban dwellers. We welcome enquiries from everyone”, said Kaye Fennessy. 

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“Foster care is integral to the work we do in Tusla and there is an ongoing demand for foster carers. We are asking people from diverse backgrounds, in communities across Ireland, to consider providing all types of foster care. It could be respite care on weekends- even one weekend a month. It could be an emergency placement, or a longer-term placement for children and young people who cannot, for various reasons, live with their birth families,” added Kaye Fennessy

For further information about fostering, visit www.fostering.ie