WATCH: Mayo woman champions her two children made honorary Gardaí at Templemore

Smiles and laughter were in abundance at Templemore Garda College, as 31 new Gardaí were conferred as part of the Little Blue Heroes organisation, Tuesday August 19. 

Siobhán - from Partry, Mayo - said that the Little Blue Heroes program has helped her family pay for physiotherapy treatment for her son Robert, who lives with cystic fibrosis. 

Both of Siobhán's children are Little Blue Heroes.

Her son Robert enjoyed dancing to the pop music in his wheelchair, while her daughter Karen took great joy in the blue slushees from the ice-cream van. 

Speaking to The Mayo News, Siobhán said that the day out was one of the family's good days, and that a day spent in Templemore is much more enjoyable than the days spent in Temple Street Hospital.

The Mayo woman made a point of thanking the organisation for their support. 

Siobhán said that while financial assistance for families with serious illnesses is a part of the Little Blue Heroes, the Gardaí are extremely subtle about fundraising, and never do so in front of children. 

The charity also runs a buddy program, where an assigned volunteer Garda will regularly visit a family that they are paired with.

The buddy program was a great relief to the Mayo family during the pandemic. 

At the Little Blue Heroes day in Templemore, children and teenagers with illnesses received honorary degrees, badges, and ice cream.

Comedian and actor Pat Shortt was in attendance at the event representing the Blue Knights motorcycle club, to the delight of many parents and infant honorary Gardaí.

Paw Patrol and Minnie Mouse also hit the scene and proved to be very popular with the Little Blue Heroes. 

The Gardaí have raised one million Euro for the Little Blue Heroes, according to the charity’s co-founder Alan Roughneen.

After a parade of motorcycles, children, and garda escorts, Alan Roughneen gave a speech thanking the Little Blue Heroes for their “ongoing engagement and friendship with our Garda Buddies” saying that their effort is “what makes our honourary Garda program work”. 

The Little Blue Heroes Foundation was established in 2017, and is a charity led by Garda members, retired Garda members and people from local communities on a voluntary basis.