ill children all over Ireland
smile on the face of a sick child when their
dream comes true. It’s magic!
is for all children to have fun and let
their imagination run wild!
accessible and all inclusive play centre
where no child sick or disabled feels
different and for a short time they forget
their painful treatments, hospitalisations,
loneliness, disappointments, fears and
trade them in for fun, laughter, friendship,
love and sacks full of happy memories
with their siblings and friends.
Shay Kinsella
Founder of Share A Dream Foundation
The Share A Dream Foundation was established in 1989 by Wexford man, Shay Kinsella, who spent most of his life in Limerick working at Aer Lingus in Shannon Airport.
Shay met a beautiful seven-year-old girl who was battling Leukaemia while he was recovering in hospital. He was taken by the heart-wrenching battle this girl and her family were dealing with daily. He asked her what her dream was, and she said she would love to visit Disneyland, Shay set about making enquiries, but tragically the little girl passed away before her dream could be made a reality.
Deeply moved by this encounter, Shay set up the Share A Dream Foundation to bring a little magic and respite into the lives of seriously ill and disabled children throughout Ireland. Since then, the charity has made dreams come true and touched the lives of 30,000 sick children and their families.
Shay Kinsella
Founder of Share A Dream Foundation
The Share A Dream Foundation was established in 1989 by Wexford man, Shay Kinsella, who spent most of his life in Limerick working at Aer Lingus in Shannon Airport.
Shay met a beautiful seven-year-old girl who was battling Leukaemia while he was recovering in hospital. He was taken by the heart-wrenching battle this girl and her family were dealing with daily. He asked her what her dream was, and she said she would love to visit Disneyland, Shay set about making enquiries, but tragically the little girl passed away before her dream could be made a reality.
Deeply moved by this encounter, Shay set up the Share A Dream Foundation to bring a little magic and respite into the lives of seriously ill and disabled children throughout Ireland. Since then, the charity has made dreams come true and touched the lives of 30,000 sick children and their families.
About Shay
The Share A Dream Foundation was established in 1989 by Wexford man, Shay Kinsella, who spent most of his life in Limerick working at Aer Lingus in Shannon Airport.
Shay met a beautiful seven-year-old girl who was battling Leukaemia while he was recovering in hospital. He was taken by the heart-wrenching battle this girl and her family were dealing with daily. He asked her what her dream was, and she said she would love to visit Disneyland, Shay set about making enquiries, but tragically the little girl passed away before her dream could be made a reality.
Deeply moved by this encounter, Shay set up the Share A Dream Foundation to bring a little magic and respite into the lives of seriously ill and disabled children throughout Ireland. Since then, the charity has made dreams come true and touched the lives of 30,000 sick children and their families.
Share A Dream Foundation
Fulfilling Childrens’ Dreams
Year after year, the Share A Dream Foundation has orchestrated awe-inspiring events and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for these extraordinary children.
From meeting their idols to embarking on dream getaways, the Foundation spared no effort in bringing radiant smiles to the faces of these resilient youngsters to escape from their difficult everyday lives and just have some fun.
Over the years the Foundation grew and grew and with the generous support of public donations which allowed Shay to arrange concerts, trips to Disneyland, and hold the National Children of Courage Awards and the Dream Ball.
Share A Dream Foundation
Fulfilling Childrens’ Dreams
Year after year, the Share A Dream Foundation has orchestrated awe-inspiring events and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for these extraordinary children.
From meeting their idols to embarking on dream getaways, the Foundation spared no effort in bringing radiant smiles to the faces of these resilient youngsters to escape from their difficult everyday lives and just have some fun.
Over the years the Foundation grew and grew and with the generous support of public donations which allowed Shay to arrange concerts, trips to Disneyland, and hold the National Children of Courage Awards and the Dream Ball.
There’s no greater joy than seeing the smile on the face of a sick child when their dream comes true. It’s magic!
Shay Kinsella | Founder of the Share A Dream Foundation
The only requirement in Dreamland is for all children to have fun and let their imagination run wild!
Shay Kinsella | Founder of the Share A Dream Foundation
About Dreamland
In 2016 Shay opened Dreamland, an amazing play centre in Limerick. His wish for Dreamland was for these sick children to be able to play in a safe and secure environment. Unfortunately, the Dreamland play centre suffered several costly burglaries in 2019 when vandals caused serious damage to the building. Then just after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shay died, and the charity closed. The Covid pandemic extended the closure until 2024.
The decision to re-launch the Share a Dream Foundation after four years has been welcomed by many. A new Board of Management and an Executive Team are now in place and currently, wonderful volunteers are being Garda vetted. The new board is determined to continue Shay’s amazing work and ensure the foundation continues to make dreams come true for these amazing children. Because of the repeated burglaries and criminal damage at Dreamland, the Board of Management has made the tough decision not to reopen Dreamland to the public as a play centre.
There will never be any cash or valuables retained at Dreamland and all transactions will be digitally made.
In 2016 Shay opened Dreamland, an amazing play centre in Limerick. His wish for Dreamland was for these sick children to be able to play in a safe and secure environment. Unfortunately, the Dreamland play centre suffered several costly burglaries in 2019 when vandals caused serious damage to the building. Then just after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shay died, and the charity closed. The Covid pandemic extended the closure until 2024.
The decision to re-launch the Share a Dream Foundation after four years has been welcomed by many. A new Board of Management and an Executive Team are now in place and currently, wonderful volunteers are being Garda vetted. The new board is determined to continue Shay’s amazing work and ensure the foundation continues to make dreams come true for these amazing children. Because of the repeated burglaries and criminal damage at Dreamland, the Board of Management has made the tough decision not to reopen Dreamland to the public as a play centre.
There will never be any cash or valuables retained at Dreamland and all transactions will be digitally made.
Currently, the staff and volunteers are undertaking some essential repairs and improvements at Dreamland and the Executive Team believes that the Dreamland centre will again provide a space where children with serious illnesses and life-limiting conditions can come together and experience fun and play in a safe and secure space.
The reopening of Share a Dream Foundation not only honours the legacy of Shay Kinsella, a man whom many in the community admired but will embody his enduring commitment to bringing support and happiness to those who need it most. We will continue to be a bright light for children with serious illnesses and disability and continue Shay’s mission to turn the dreams of children battling life-threatening illnesses into exhilarating realities and bring boundless joy and euphoria to these courageous children and all their family members.
Please join us in supporting this remarkable cause and help us turn dreams into dazzling realities for these extraordinary children.
How To Help
Make A Child’s Dream Come True
Very soon we will have our full Share A Dream Foundation website up and running where you can make online donations, organise support events and apply to become a volunteer. In the meantime, if you would like to support the foundation in any way please contact us – we would love to hear from you.
Every one who gets involved helps make a child’s dream come true.
Contact Us
Share A Dream Foundation, Unit 6, Park Point,
Dublin Road, Castletroy, Limerick, Co. Limerick, V94 V32N
How To Help
Make A Child’s Dream Come True
Very soon we will have our full Share A Dream Foundation website up and running where you can make online donations, organise support events and apply to become a volunteer. In the meantime, if you would like to support the foundation in any way please contact us – we would love to hear from you.
Every one who gets involved helps make a child’s dream come true.
Contact Us
Share A Dream Foundation, Unit 6, Park Point,
Dublin Road, Castletroy, Limerick, Co. Limerick, V94 V32N
How To Help
Make A Child’s Dream Come True
Very soon we will have our full Share A Dream Foundation website up and running where you can make online donations, organise support events and apply to become a volunteer.
In the meantime, if you would like to support the foundation in any way please contact us – we would love to hear from you.
Everyone who gets involved helps make a child’s dream come true.
Contact Us
Share A Dream Foundation,
Unit 6, Park Point,
Dublin Road, Castletroy,
Limerick, Co. Limerick,
V94 V32N