If you work with families in emergency accommodation and would like to nominate one for The Christmas Table, we would be glad to hear from you. We work with homeless services, social workers, family-support organisations and community partners across Ireland.
The Christmas Table gives families in emergency accommodation a long weekend — Thursday to Sunday — at a family-run hotel in the west of Ireland: full board, a Christmas morning with presents for every child, and transport laid on. It runs in the Advent weeks before Christmas, so families are home in time for the day itself.
It is not a substitute for long-term housing. It is a few days of respite, dignity and joy during the hardest season. We ask that referring partners remain a point of contact for the family before, during and after their stay, and we will coordinate closely with your team throughout.
Register your organisation's interestThe Christmas Table does not accept direct applications from families. Every family is identified and referred by a professional partner who already works with them. This protects families from a process that could feel burdensome or intrusive, and gives us a trusted point of contact for each family.
A recognised organisation nominates a family it supports. For the pilot year we work personally with one or two partners, family by family.
With the family's consent: the number of adults and children, the ages and first names of each child, any dietary or accessibility needs, and — if the family is comfortable — the children's interests, so presents can be chosen with care. No case history is asked for or wanted. We don't need to know why a family is in emergency accommodation, only that they are.
There are three Advent weekends to choose from — Thu 26–29 Nov, Thu 3–6 Dec and Thu 10–13 Dec — in three towns in the west of Ireland (Leenane, Westport and Clifden), and we match each family to the weekend that suits them best. We handle transport and presents and make practical arrangements with the family and your team. Consent rests with the family throughout.
Before, during and after the weekend, the referring worker remains the family's anchor — the person they already know and trust.
For the inaugural year we are approaching organisations working directly with families in emergency accommodation, including Focus Ireland, the Simon Communities, the Peter McVerry Trust, Tusla, local-authority homeless services, and Direct Provision centres. If your organisation supports families who might benefit, we would welcome the conversation.
Tell us who you are and we'll be in touch about how referral works for the coming season. This is an expression of interest, not a referral — no family details at this stage.
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