A senator from Co. Kildare has gone off on a major solo run to promote the idea of a Bank Holiday next year to coincide with the Late Late Toy Show.
Senator Fiona O’Loughlin is supporting an apparent campaign, after being inspired by a letter from a boy in Co. Meath, who spends all day getting ready for the Toy Show.
Senator O’Loughlin says the last Friday in November is now an institution for children and families, and there should be the “sense of a national holiday” around it.
It comes amid a push for an extra bank holiday to be introduced next year, potentially to coincide with St Brigid’s Day.
However, Senator O’Loughlin actually wants to see two extra bank holidays next year – one on St Brigid’s Day, and another to coincide with the toy show.
She said she was inspired by a 10-year-old boy from Co Meath who is looking to start a petition to make toy show day a day off.
Senator O’Loughlin said “I think we all want to believe in the magic of Christmas, and the Late Late Toy Show is really an institution.
“Particularly last year… it was a dark time for all of us. But the magic [of the toy show]… everyone tuned in and listened, and the voices of the young people who were on resonated that night.”
As well as making toy show day a day off, Senator O’Loughlin also believes the annual show should start earlier in the evening
She said: “If there was a sense of a national holiday around it… no homework on the day… then children could get ready, possibly not long after dinnertime.
“Young people and children’s voices are important in everything we do – we need to listen to them.”
It’s been met a fairly unappreciative response from the public
Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, in case you want to know exactly which politician had this particular brainstorm, but can't bring yourself to read the article… https://t.co/Ufko3M2LPE
— Jonathan Mills (@Muinchille) November 23, 2021
And people said the Seanad was a waste of time of and should be abolished.
— Michael Carroll (@Mi_Carr) November 23, 2021
