I should really be writing about the latest consultation process announced by the Minister this week. About how we hope that this time, with a public and independent consultation, the views of service users (i.e., adopted people and natural parents) will be listened to, rather than the views of service providers — those with something to hide, or protect, or both.

But no.

I'll be busy enough with politics, submissions, meetings and interviews over the next few months. So let's have a time out. Today I want to talk about generosity.

Believe it or not, between a fulltime job, voluntary work for the AdoptionIreland/the APA, and family, I actually manage to squeeze in time for a hobby. I'm a gamer — someone who plays card, board and role-playing games. (This isn't the place for an explanation, but if you want to find out more, click here).

So it was that last January, I headed down to Cork for Warpcon 13, a gamer's convention organised by a student society in UCC. Obviously, the purpose of going to a games convention is to play lots of games — but there's a big social aspect too. OK, yes, it involves the pub :-) And one aspect of the social dimension is the Charity Auction run by the Warpcon committee every year.

This year, in addition to the auction, there was another fundraiser. One gamer, Aidan Walsh, was going to have his hair cut short. Aidan's flowing locks previously ended up somewhere around his lower back. He announced at the start of the weekend that this was going to disappear if enough money was collected for charity.

Now, I'd only ever met Aidan two or three times before this. I'd never had a real conversation with him, and certainly never mentioned adoption. And as far as I know, Aidan has absolutely no direct connection with adoption. But Aidan comes up to me in the pub and says "By the way, I want to give half the money I collect to the APA — you're doing great work."

And so it was that on the Sunday night, Aidan's hair went from over a foot and a half in length to...well, do you remember that singer, Chesney Hawkes? (If not, think pageboy!).

Aidan's act of generosity isn't isolated. While monetary donations are always welcome, others donate selflessly of their time and energy. I'm thinking especially of two of our "Search Angels", Sandra and Judy. Again, neither have a direct connection to adoption that I know of, but both, completely free of charge, spend hours trawling through records on behalf of people who cannot themselves travel to Joyce House or St. Catherine's House. Their work is directly responsible for many successful reunions.

So for this editorial, we'll forget the politics, the hidden agendas, the obstructionist agencies, and just say "Thanks" to those who donate so selflessly of their time, energy, money or fundraising activities. You really are appreciated.

Anton Sweeney
AdoptionIreland Chairperson

March 2003

* For an explanation of the use the term 'bastard' (and why it's a compliment!), click here.