Focus Ireland, UNICEF, SVP and Cliona’s Foundation among those set to benefit.

Kirby Group Engineering has donated in excess of €100,000 to charities in Ireland and abroad this Christmas. The Limerick-based electrical and mechanical engineering company has built a tradition of supporting those in need all year round, with a special focus at this time of year.

This month, Kirby has given €50,000 to Focus Ireland, a charity that works closely with people all over the country who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. €25,000 has been given to UNICEF, an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. The firm also donated €15,000 to The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP), Ireland’s largest voluntary charity, which works towards social justice. Kirby has also given €12,500 to Cliona’s Foundation, a charity helping families in financial crisis.

Group Managing Director at Kirby, Mark Flanagan, said it is an honour to help these and other charities, “We place an emphasis on people first and community values. We know that there are many people in difficult circumstances especially in the run up to Christmas and the attitude among Kirby staff is to see how we can help and deliver on that.”

CEO of Focus Ireland, Pat Dennigan said: “Focus Ireland is incredibly grateful to receive a donation of €50,000 from Kirby once again this Christmas. At Focus Ireland, our vision is that everyone has a right to a place they can call home. This gift can prevent 20 families from becoming homeless through support from our Family Mediation Team. I don’t think there is a greater gift you can give at Christmas. On behalf of the families we support, who will keenly feel the impact of this gift, I would like to say a big thank you.”

UNICEF Ireland’s Executive Director, Peter Power said, “UNICEF greatly appreciates Kirby for its ongoing support of our work for children. Every child has the right to survive, thrive and fulfil its potential. When conflicts or natural disasters strike, children are always the most exposed and the most at risk. This generous donation of €25,000 allows UNICEF to support the most vulnerable children around the world. UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories, and as long time supporters of UNICEF’s work, Kirby continues to help us defend the rights of every child, every day, across the globe.”

Rose McGowan, National President of SVP said “Thank you so much to everyone in Kirby for this very generous donation to help families who will need the support of SVP this Christmas. In the coming months the cost-of-living crisis will hit different households in different ways particularly with the rising costs of food, energy and housing. Add in Christmas costs and you can see how difficult life is going to be for those on fixed incomes, whether that income comes through the State or from low-paid employment. The generosity of Kirby will make a real difference to the lives of these people and offer them some relief in the months ahead. Thank you.”

Brendan Ring, CEO of Cliona’s Foundation said, “Cliona’s Foundation is grateful and delighted to be the recipient of a donation from Kirby this Christmas. We know what a difference this donation will make to families caring for a seriously sick child who are struggling financially, in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. We greatly admire the generous and philanthropic spirit of Kirby. It is only through the support of donors and companies that we have been able to help 1,128 families all over Ireland since 2008. The donation from Kirby will allow us to support five families in need this Christmas.”

These latest donations follow a year in which the firm also supported 70 local, national and international charities to the tune of another €250,000. The beneficiaries included a number of charities in Italy and Sweden, countries where the company has a strong presence. €5,000 each has been donated to Opera San Francesco and Pane Quotidiano in Italy, charities which offer food and shelter to people living in poverty.

Kirby has also given €5,000 apiece to Swedish charities Hela Människan – a local community support group to fight homelessness, mental illness, addiction and other vulnerable life situations, Julhjälpen Gävleborg, which helps local families at Christmas time and Alla Kvinnors Hus, which provides sheltered housing for female victims of domestic violence.

Mark Flanagan also paid tribute to the staff at Kirby after another busy and productive year, “The team here show goodwill and generosity not just at Christmas, but all year round. We’ve organised a number of community events including our inaugural Kirby Way Cycle in September, which was a huge success raising €450,000 for Self Help Africa and the National Breast Cancer Research Institute. We look forward to continuing our involvement with worthwhile organisations into 2023.”