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RTÉ Toy Show Appeal and Community Foundation Ireland

Open Spectrum CLG has been awarded €10,000 from the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal grants by
Community Foundation Ireland. This grant will fund our parent-led activities and help to change children’s lives for good in South Dublin.

RTE Toy Show Appeal Community Foundation Ireland
RTÉ Toy Show Appeal and Community Foundation Ireland

About RTE Toy Show Appeal
Inspired by children, the RTE Toy Show Appeal works to bring the magic of the Late Late Toy Show to every child in Ireland. By funding essential support, health, well-being, play and creativity we aim to change children’s lives for good.


The donations to the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, are received and managed by registered charity, Community Foundation Ireland with whom we work in partnership.

For more information about Community Foundation Ireland, please see here:

Community Foundation Ireland – For change. For better. For all

The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal has raised over €21million for children’s charities across the island of Ireland to date.

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Wicklow Way Fundraiser 2024

Our third Wicklow Way fundraiser was a great success, raising well over €10,000 for an ever more ambitious programme of activities from Open Spectrum. 

Huge thanks to Cycling Safaris at the Cycle Hub Dun Laoghaire who provided our wonderful guide Danny Mc Dermott and our support vehicle (www.the-cyclehub.com) and also to our volunteer driver Donal Clissman. 

Incredible memories were made as tales were told along the way through stunning countryside in great weather.   

Special kudos goes to the Open Spectrum young people who made it through to the other side!

WALK WITH US ON A GLORIOUS 2 DAY HIKE THROUGH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE WICKLOW WAY! 

SATURDAY APRIL 27th: 24km hike from Glenmalure to Glendalough via the Spinc walk with breathtaking views of both valleys, including Ireland’s longest glaciated valley.

SUNDAY APRIL 28th: Started in Glendalough and hiked to the Glencree valley 28kms away, finishing at Crone Woods. A long day but a very rewarding one!

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OPEN SPECTRUM TURNS 10!

Open Spectrum began in September 2013 when two mothers of teens with ASD, Helen Norris and Victoria White, met in Awesome Walls in Swords. Determined to offer an extra-curricular range of activities which their kids could access, something their neuro-typical kids took for granted, they met for coffee and then held a public meeting to assess interest.

Interest there was! Our first activity was a special trampolining session in Jumpzone, Sandyford, always a great supporter of our work. Since then we have slowly built up a team and now offer a big range of activities, from karate to kayaking, from youth club to athletics, from tennis to dance, from rock climbing to orienteering and golf…

We acknowledge the support of Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Co. Council, the Traditional Meat Company, The Cycle Hub, Dun Laoghaire and many other generous donors.

On September 2nd, 2023, we celebrated our 10th birthday with old friends and new and welcomed the Minister for Special Education, Josepha Madigan, Minister of State, Ossian Smyth and TDs Cormac Devlin and Richard Boyd Barrett as well as Councilor Martha Fanning. Thanks to all of you and most of all thanks to our fabulous young people!

Treasurer Helen Norris with Mary Kavanagh, Vetting Co-ordinator
Trustee and Parent Co-ordinator, Maeve Stapleton with Minister Josepha Madigan
Treasurer Helen Norris with Suzanne Cullinane, Parent Co-ordinator and founding Trustee, Kate Bunbury
Chairperson Victoria White and Treasurer Helen Norris celebrate Open Spectrum’s 10th birthday!

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Information on Open Spectrum Events

Since November 2019 we operate an online booking and payment system .

Prior to booking any activity online you must be a registered member of open spectrum . To register you will need to fill in our online registration form . Once you have registered , our secretary will approve your membership . This can take a day or two .

Please note that we are all volunteers and we will endeavour to complete this process as soon as possible . Once you are approved you will be allowed access to the events and bookings . All activities operate on a first come first serve basis and part payments or refunds are not possible .