'I wanted to do something': Youghal mum’s quest to help poorest children

A simple quirk of fate led to Youghal woman Ruth Hayes dedicating a large chunk of her life to the Mary’s Meals charity, which serves food every day to more than two million children in 19 of the world’s poorest countries.

“I was scrolling through Twitter, and I saw a tweet from the singer Celine Dion about a film on YouTube called Child 21,” explains Ruth, who is a mother of three.

“I watched it for 30 minutes and it described the fantastic work of Mary’s Meals that helps children get off the streets, who get to eat a nutritious meal every day at school, and eventually they are able to focus on realising their dreams.”

The film made a big impact on Ruth.

“It hit me like a ton of bricks. Watching another film called Generation Hope on YouTube, I knew I had to get involved in Mary’s Meals.”

And she did.

“It was the simplicity that struck me,” says Ruth. “Providing one nutritious meal a day for a child in their place of education.

“I contacted the office in Dublin to get involved. These kids in poverty-stricken countries were not just street children. They lived in poverty.”

Scotsman Magnus MacFarlane- Barrow set up Mary’s Meals in 1992, and it is celebrating 20 years in Ireland this year.

He explains his initial vision: “One good meal every day for a hungry child; there is more than enough food in the world.”

How was Magnus inspired to help change the state of hunger and poverty in impoverished countries?

“I was inspired by a child that I spoke to in Malawi when I was on a trip there in 2002,” says Magnus. “I asked him what he wished for.”

The child, 14-year-old Edward, replied: ‘To have enough food to eat and be able to go to school.”

To mark its 20th anniversary in Ireland, Mary’s Meals is having a big luncheon celebration and Charity Auction for Hope in Maynooth on May 3, with fantastic celebrity memorabilia up for grabs, including a signed shirt from golfer Shane Lowry and a jacket belonging to the late singer Christy Dignam.

Cork woman Ruth realised when she started to help out Mary’s Meals that we are privileged in Ireland.

“I thought of my own kids. If they had been born in any of those countries... We have so much here,” says Ruth.

“There was an urgent need to address the imbalance. As a parent, you want your child to be fed - a basic need.

“Mary’s Meals aims to get children off the streets, give them food, and concentrate on breaking the cycle. I wanted to do something.”

And she did.

“I’m not a sea swimmer. But I can swim,” says Ruth, who spearheads the local Youghal branch of Mary’s Meals.

She wasn’t going to be a fish out of water.

“When I first got involved in Mary’s Meals, I went for a dip in the sea every day in May!”

Did she get cold feet?

“No! I was sparked by joy,” says Ruth. 

“The joy of everyone involved was contagious, and their sea-swimming efforts helped raise funds for an emergency appeal to help displaced people in war-torn Ethiopia.

“The displaced people fled up North,” says Ruth. “Kids were orphaned. Poverty was being used as a weapon. I wanted to try and do something to help the situation.”

Ruth and the army of volunteers helped the situation, and continue to do so.

“We rely on an army of volunteers all over the world to spread awareness and help raise funds,” she says.

“In the various communities, we rely on volunteers to run Mary’s Meals. It helps build communities. Local farmers provide food.”

Cork people provide a lot of support.

“Cork volunteers are very much part of our story,” says Ruth. “Leahy’s Open Farm are running a fundraising event.”

Cork people are imaginative too.

“Throughout the county, people have organised speed dating events and a barn dance! Cork people are very creative!”

Ruth likes young people to get involved. And they do. Just recently, Youghal Pobalscoil hosted a fund-raiser for Mary’s Meals.

“The pupils are fantastic, as are the people of Cork supporting Mary’s Meals,” says Ruth.

Throwing in your oar for a worthy cause makes people feel good.

“Yes, and it can give young people a sense of responsibility, making them more socially responsible,” says Ruth.

“We have a Mary’s Meals box at home and my daughter’s school organised a cake sale and made €150 for Mary’s Meals. Spreading awareness is important.”

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow’s vision all those years ago is now a reality.

The acts of love spread far and wide to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

“When we set out on this path, we were overwhelmed by people’s goodness in donating,” says Magnus. “And that has been the story ever since.”

It’s a story that sparks continuous joy.

“Today, we’re feeding the children and at the same time we’re working on the solution to getting them fed in the long term, creating a global movement of people who believe in this mission.”

The Mary’s Meals luncheon and auction is on May 3.

Anyone can attend the anniversary luncheon in Maynooth, €55, but you must get tickets on April 24 on Eventbrite or by calling the office on 01-8535163, all proceeds going to Mary’s Meals.

The luncheon takes place at 1pm in the Pugin Hall at Maynooth University.

The auction at 2.30pm in the Aula Maxima Campus is free to attend. Guest speaker will be founder Magnus MacFarlane Barrow, who recently spoke in the Vatican at the World Leaders summit on children’s rights alongside Al Gore and other world leaders on children’s rights.

If you cannot attend the day, you can make a commission bid online at marysmeals.ie prior to the event. The catalogue of lots will be available to view soon.

Mary’s Meals came to Ireland in 2005 when volunteers groups sprang up, launching fundraising and awareness groups all over the country.

“They are the backbone of what we do,” says Ruth.

Each group has its own fund-raising activities throughout the year, with a nationwide walk to Knock, Co Mayo, being the biggest event every August.

Mary’s Meals are feeding 2.6 million children daily in their place of education.

The charity feeds children in 16 countries around the world, including Malawi, Haiti, Madagascar and India.

It costs just €22 to feed a child in their place of education for a whole school year. Costs are kept low so that a minimum of 97% goes to Mary’s Meals charitable activities.

In 2023, the charity won the prestigious Princess of Asturias award for its work.

See: Ireland@marysmeals.org

For more information, call Trish on 086-3140814 from 9am to noon.