Get ready to feel the Toy Show magic with a heartwarming hour of television from RTÉ. Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal celebrates the joy, magic and real-life impact of The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal on children and families across Ireland.
Since it began in 2020, The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, managed by Community Foundation Ireland, has raised over €26 million, funding projects and charities that support children who need it most. This uplifting programme takes us beyond the sparkle of the Toy Show to meet some of the children and families whose lives have been changed by the public’s generosity.
From Lucy Kelly in Cork, a wheelchair user whose world has opened up through the support of The Crann Centre, to young cancer survivor Sophie Quirke from Tipperary, who, with the help of Oscar’s Kids, enjoyed a magical day of pampering, helicopter rides and surprises, these are the real stories of how the Toy Show Appeal is changing lives. We also meet families finding comfort after loss of a parent at Barretstown Bereavement Camp, children gaining confidence through ChildVision’s equine therapy, young writers discovering their voices at Fighting Words, and others supported by Safe Haven sailing project, BUMBLEance, and My Canine Companion.
Each story is shared through the voices and experiences of the children and families whose lives have been touched by the Appeal, reminding us what it is truly about. Between these stories, there are other shorter bursts of joy from even more RTÉ Toy Show Appeal-funded charities across Ireland, along with messages of support from famous friends including Bon Jovi and Westlife.
The programme also honours Saoirse Ruane, whose courage and spirit inspired the launch of The Toy Show Appeal. Her mother, Roseanna, shares Saoirse’s story and the enduring legacy of love and kindness she leaves behind.
Blending the warmth of The Late Late Toy Show with powerful, real-life stories, Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal is an hour to make you smile, shed a tear, and remember what kindness can do.
