The is the final article of four articles about ‘ The Best Irish People, Companies or Programmes for Parents’. You can see the first article here and the second article here and the third article here.
Each year in Ireland there are approximately 54,000 to 55,000 babies are born. Whether it’s new borns, toddlers or school aged children, parents in Ireland are lucky that there are so many companies and programmes stepping up to help make things a bit easier for mums, dads, and carers. There are also services for bereaved people, single parents or parents in difficult circumstances.
Rainbows Ireland is a peer-support organisation dedicated to helping children and young people cope with grief, loss, and significant family changes such as bereavement, parental separation, divorce, or relationship breakdown. It offers a safe and supportive environment where children and young people can express their feelings and share their experiences with others facing similar challenges, guided by trained facilitators. The programme uses structured materials like journals, storybooks, and activities to gently guide participants through the grieving process.
Operating for over forty years in Ireland, Rainbows provides group support through schools, parishes, and Family Resource Centres across the country.
Rainbows also offers online support sessions for parents and guardians to better support their children during times of bereavement and family change. The organisation fosters emotional growth and positive mental health while respecting the individual nature of grief.
ReBorn Ireland is Ireland’s first parent-to-parent preloved baby marketplace, created by parents for parents. Founded by Dee Peacock, a mother who saw firsthand the waste generated by baby items often used briefly and then discarded, ReBorn aims to promote an eco-friendly lifestyle by facilitating the buying and selling of quality preloved baby products. The platform allows parents to easily list, update, and sell their gently used baby items such as travel systems, nursery furniture, and clothing, while buyers can browse and purchase these items with confidence. The marketplace emphasises quality and value, helping parents recoup some of their investment by selling well-maintained products and supporting a sustainable reuse model that benefits both families and the environment.
In addition to the marketplace, ReBorn Ireland provides helpful advice and expert tips to parents through social media channels like Instagram and TikTok. They run a “ReBorn Parenting Series” featuring experts like sleep consultants to offer practical parenting guidance. The platform is designed to be user-friendly and community-oriented, fostering connections among parents while promoting upcycling and decluttering. With 10% of sales supporting platform maintenance,
Returners Programmes
Skillsnet Ireland’s Women ReBOOT programme is an award-winning programme that helps experienced professionals refresh their skills, regain confidence, and reconnect with career opportunities, especially in technology and related sectors. It includes hands-on technical training, professional development such as coaching and personal branding, and support through a like-minded community. The programme lasts 10-12 weeks with online and self-directed learning, plus individual coaching and in-person networking events. The current Women ReBOOT courses, co-funded by the Irish government and the EU
Refugee Programmes
There are several programmes and services in Ireland aimed at supporting parents living in Direct Provision and refugee parents. ActionAid Ireland runs a project called “Paving The Way” which focuses on lone parents in Direct Provision, providing vital information about their rights and creating safe spaces where parents can access tools and resources identified by the community to support healthy family lives. Similarly, the ISPCC Integration Service supports families living in Direct Provision centres like Mosney, offering empowerment, connection, resilience, and parental support groups through virtual meetings to help parents cope with stress and isolation.
The Migrant Family Support Service (MFSS) offers culturally sensitive support to migrant families facing child protection interventions and promotes positive parenting practices, including helplines, clinics, information sessions, and outreach to Direct Provision centres. The Irish Red Cross also delivers wraparound support for refugee families in Ireland, including accommodation, casework, and integration assistance. Additional support is provided through community sponsorship programmes and collaboration with NGOs.
Schooldays.ie is Ireland’s most comprehensive online resource aimed at supporting parents, caregivers, and teachers throughout the school years, from pre-school to secondary education. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Baggot Street, in Dublin, the platform provides a wide range of information and services including parenting advice, school listings, learning supports, afterschool activities, school tours, family break ideas, and much more. Most recently, schooldays.ie has launched a dedicated childcare platform connecting parents with trusted childminders, babysitters and au pairs across Ireland. It serves as a valuable hub connecting families and educators with practical resources to navigate education and parenting in Ireland
The website attracts a strong and growing community, providing quality, curated content tailored especially for parents and teachers. Schooldays.ie also offers opportunities for businesses and professionals to engage with their audience through advertising and sponsorships aligned with educational and family-related themes.
The Sláintecare Community Mothers Programme (CMP) is a home visiting initiative designed to support parents in caring for their babies and young children while promoting their own health and wellbeing. Funded through the Sláintecare Integration Fund and philanthropic sources, the programme operates in collaboration with the HSE Public Health Nursing Service, Tusla, the Katharine Howard Foundation, and the Early Learning Initiative (ELI), among others. It delivers vital child health and wellbeing messages, especially to families at risk, and was particularly crucial during the Covid-19 pandemic by enabling frontline staff to maintain support for vulnerable parents and infants.
The programme is implemented across 10 sites with various delivery models, with ongoing work to standardise these and create a common data framework to support continuous evaluation and expansion across Ireland. The project commenced in January 2020 under the guidance of project consultant Susan Brocklesby and strives to make the community-based support more consistent, evidence-based, and widely accessible.
The programme builds on a long history dating back to its original development in 1983 and focuses on prevention, early intervention, and empowerment of parents through warm, trusting relationships with Community Mothers—trained home visitors who provide advice and referrals to community and statutory services. Its approach promotes infant mental health, parent responsiveness, and social inclusion. Supported by a governance structure that includes key partners like Tusla, HSE, and the Katharine Howard Foundation, the CMP integrates multiple local and national health policies and services. The initiative aims to improve immunisation uptake, nutrition, parental engagement in child development, and the overall health outcomes of families. The work includes developing guidance, resources, and training to ensure best practices are implemented uniformly while supporting the programme’s sustainability and growth throughout Irish communities.
Sleep Matters is a sleep consultancy led by Lucy Wolfe, a highly qualified sleep consultant, relationship mentor, and author specialising in child sleep solutions. With over 15 years of experience, Lucy offers a gentle, sensitive, and emotionally appropriate approach to helping parents establish positive sleep practices for their children, aiming to improve sleep from birth through early childhood. Her methods focus on fostering secure, loving relationships while aligning with the science of sleep and the emotional wellbeing of both child and parent. Lucy’s approaches include Gentle Sleep Shaping for infants and the Stay-and-Support Approach, which avoids leaving children to cry alone and supports long-term, emotionally healthy sleep habits.
Lucy Wolfe is also a postgraduate researcher and author of bestselling books such as “The Baby Sleep Solution.” She provides one-to-one sleep consultancy, writes widely for parenting publications, appears regularly on Irish television and radio as a sleep expert, and has developed natural sleep aid products. The Sleep Matters platform offers comprehensive support and resources to empower parents in creating realistic, effective sleep routines that consider each family’s unique dynamics. This holistic and research-based service has been trusted by Irish parents for over a decade to help babies and young children sleep better in a nurturing way.
Snugabugz specialises in high-quality, organic cotton baby socks and booties designed to stay securely on little feet. The products use GOTS-certified organic cotton and are OEKO-TEX® 100 certified, ensuring they are free from harmful chemicals and safe for babies’ sensitive skin. With soft, breathable materials and baby-safe, water-based paints, Snugabugz combines comfort, safety, and sustainability. The stay-on technology prevents socks from slipping off, while the non-slip soles offer extra grip for babies learning to move around indoors. Designed with a roomy, easy on/off fit, they are practical for everyday use and machine washable for convenience.
Manufactured in partnership with a trusted European supplier that shares its ethical and eco-friendly values, Snugabugz focuses on functionality without compromising style or environmental responsibility. Parents benefit from next-day delivery within Ireland, a 30-day hassle-free return policy, and a choice of various payment options.
Soothing Solutions Ltd is an Irish company based in Dundalk, Louth, that specialises in creating medicinal-free, natural products designed to provide comfort to young children when they are suffering from sore throats, coughs & travel sickness. Their flagship offering, Tonstix Honey Jelly Pops, are child-friendly throat and cough relief solutions made primarily from honey, which naturally soothes sore throats.
Unlike adult lozenges, Tonstix are jelly-based and formulated to dissolve safely in the mouth, removing any choking hazard. These pops are suitable for toddlers aged two years and older, they also include added Vitamin C and Zinc to support immune health.
The product has won awards and is available in stores like, Tesco and Holland & Barrett and most pharmacies across Ireland, including Boots, and Chemist Warehouse demonstrating its popularity and trustworthiness among parents seeking natural, safe soothing options for their children.
Soothing Solutions was founded in 2017 by Sinéad Crowther, drawing on her extensive experience in community pharmacy to fill a gap in the market for child-appropriate sore throat and travel sickness relief. The company emphasises innovation and high product standards, with Tonstix developed alongside pharmaceutical and nutraceutical experts and manufactured locally by the founders Sinéad and Co-Founder Denise Lauaki in Ireland. The brand’s mission is to become a household staple for parents, providing effective, natural comfort solutions during seasonal illnesses.
Sonny Bear is an Irish online boutique based in County Kildare that specialises in sustainable, high-quality children’s clothing and accessories. Founded by Lynda Murphy, a mother with a background in social services, Sonny Bear offers a carefully curated collection of timeless, durable clothes designed to be “hand-me-downable,” emphasising soft, gentle fabrics suitable for sensitive skin. The brand focuses on sustainability and ethical sourcing, featuring mostly handmade and GOTS-certified products that support environmental responsibility while delivering comfort and style.
Lynda’s personal experience with her own children, including her youngest daughter’s eczema, shapes the company’s dedication to choosing only the best materials that do not irritate sensitive skin.
Sonny Bear also carries a nostalgic and meaningful element, reflected in its name which is inspired by the family’s love for horses and childhood memories. The company aims to provide parents with a trusted source of beautiful, sustainable clothing that honours both the planet and childhood through quality craftsmanship and thoughtful design. Orders are shipped from the boutique with a strong commitment to reducing environmental impact.
Splash Swim School in Ireland is a dedicated swimming school that offers nurturing and personalised lessons for adults, focusing on individual goals and abilities. Classes are kept small to ensure each swimmer receives personal attention from highly qualified instructors who adapt teaching to the learner’s pace and confidence level. The school understands the barriers some adults face with swimming, including bad past experiences, and seeks to create a supportive, encouraging environment to build skills and enjoyment in the water. Their teaching methods are up-to-date, and the instructors continuously enhance their skills to provide the best guidance.
Testimonials highlight the school’s success in helping adults progress from beginners to confident swimmers mastering strokes like front crawl, breaststroke, and backstroke. The school also offers gentle encouragement to help learners stretch their abilities and achieve personal swimming goals confidently.
Located in Sligo, They also provide 1-to-1 lessons and improvers’ courses tailored to adult learners. Their philosophy is based on educational psychology, focusing on building confidence and water safety knowledge while making swimming an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Stork Box is an eco-friendly subscription service offering monthly deliveries of sustainable nappies and baby wipes, designed to support environmentally conscious parents in Ireland. Customers can choose their preferred brand of eco nappies and enjoy discounts by subscribing for regular monthly supplies, benefiting from free shipping and additional savings on subsequent orders. The service operates on a flexible model allowing parents to pay when it suits them without the need to cancel subscriptions if they wish.
In addition to convenience, Stork Box is committed to environmental responsibility. For every order, they plant a tree and remove plastic waste from oceans in partnership with environmental organisations. They source nappies that are gentle on babies’ skin yet kind to the planet, featuring eco-certified brands like Kit and Kin and Beaming Baby Bamboo. The company also ensures all deliveries are carbon neutral to reduce their ecological footprint. Stork Box’s focus on quality, sustainability, and customer-friendly service makes it a valued choice for parents seeking to balance care for their child with care for the environment.
Support Groups
Parents joining support groups related to disabilities, mental health, LGBT+ issues, bereavement, or parenting groups can gain significant benefits, both practical and emotional. Being part of such groups creates a shared experience where parents connect with others who truly understand their challenges, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance. This shared understanding reduces feelings of isolation and provides emotional support, hope, and validation without judgment.
The non-judgmental environment encourages open conversations where parents can honestly share struggles, exchange advice, and learn practical coping strategies. Connecting with others in similar situations also promotes empowerment and optimism, allowing parents to re-evaluate their confidence and parenting approaches positively. Knowledge sharing about navigating complex healthcare, social, and educational systems is a key advantage, offering parents new insights and reducing uncertainty about managing their child’s or family’s needs.Additionally, these groups often help parents build social connections that extend beyond the group, offering opportunities for friendship and community involvement for both parents and their children. The interaction fosters adaptive coping skills, social integration, and emotional resilience. Support networks have been shown to improve parental well-being by reducing stress and increasing their sense of competence and self-efficacy. For specific groups like those for disabilities or bereavement, tailored support can ease transitions, provide critical resources, and build hope for the future. Overall, joining these groups helps parents gain emotional strength, practical tools, and a community that understands and supports their unique values, beliefs, and challenges. This holistic support contributes to healthier family dynamics and better outcomes for both parents and children.
Examples of some support groups for parents are:
Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency (DESSA)
Tara Elzingre (née Maher) isn’t just another digital trainer—she’s a powerhouse when it comes to helping business owners and working parents navigate the world with confidence.
As the founder of Parene, she saw a gap in the support available for working parents juggling careers and family life—so she built a solution.
Launched in 2021, Parene has grown into a thriving expert-led membership platform with 15+ incredible women sharing their knowledge across health, finance, parenting, career, business, and beyond with Parene members in Ireland, the UK & Europe. The village didn’t disappear; it just needed to go hybrid.
But Tara didn’t stop there. In 2024, she launched her consultancy, taking her passion for digital tools & AI to the small business world. She’s on a mission to make AI and digital tools simple, strategic, and seriously effective for business owners across the UK & Ireland. Forget the tech jargon and fluff—her online and in-person training on ChatGPT, Canva, CapCut, and more breaks it all down in a way that’s easy to follow and impossible not to implement.
The Therapy Institute in Ireland is recognised for offering progressive and effective approaches to mental health care. Under the clinical direction of Richard Hogan, a systemically trained Family Psychotherapist and regular Irish Examiner columnist, the Institute provides counselling and psychotherapy tailored to a variety of needs, including family, child, adolescent, couples, and individual therapy.
Their approach emphasises both evidence-based and goal-oriented strategies to improve communication, rebuild relationships, and support emotional well-being.
The Institute is staffed by a team of experienced therapists and is currently seeking new therapists to join their practice, reflecting its growing clientele and commitment to accessible care. Services are available in central Dublin, and sessions are informed by the latest academic research in the field. Richard Hogan’s expertise is frequently featured in media, and he is the author of “Parenting the Screenager,” offering practical guides for parenting in the digital age.
Tigers Childcare is a well-established childcare provider offering high-quality early years education and care for children from 4 months to 13 years old. With multiple centres located across Dublin, Meath, and Kildare—including notable locations such as Belgard Square, Blanchardstown, Leopardstown, Ashbourne, and Enfield
Tigers Childcare strives to create nurturing and stimulating environments that foster learning and development. Their play-based, child-led curriculum places the child at the center of all learning to help each individual reach their full potential regardless of ability or background.
The services at Tigers Childcare include full-day care, free pre-school classes under the ECCE Scheme, breakfast clubs, after-school care, and holiday camps for school-aged children. The centres are purpose-built with carefully designed indoor and outdoor areas that promote physical, emotional, social, and cognitive wellbeing through engaging and varied activities such as arts and crafts, experiments, and outdoor play.
Toy Libraries Ireland is the representative body for non-profit community toy libraries across Ireland. It supports and promotes these community-based resources, which are typically run by volunteers and enable families to borrow a wide range of high-quality toys for a low or nominal fee. Toy Libraries Ireland provides information, resources, training, and tailored support for community groups and local authorities interested in starting or running toy libraries. Their goal is to further the toy library movement nationally, encouraging sustainable, educational play and helping families access toys without the need for constant purchasing, reducing toy waste and clutter for homes.
Toy libraries foster eco-friendly practices by promoting the reuse and sharing of toys, often focusing on pre-loved or sustainably sourced options. They target children from birth to around age 8 and encourage open-ended, imaginative play without reliance on batteries or screens. Memberships are generally affordable, allowing families to borrow multiple toys for weeks at a time, supporting child development in an inclusive and community-oriented environment. Toy Libraries Ireland also acts as a hub where groups can share ideas and receive advice, strengthening the network and impact of toy libraries nationally in Ireland.
Traveler Families Supports
Traveller family organisations in Ireland play a critical role in supporting the unique needs and challenges faced by Traveller communities. One key organisation, Exchange House Ireland, provides a comprehensive range of frontline services including family support, crisis intervention, addiction and mental health services, education, and youth programmes. Their multidisciplinary approach helps Travellers address multiple needs under one roof and supports equitable access to services.
Another vital organisation, the Rural Traveller Projects, offers tailored support around accommodation, poverty, education, court support, parenting, and mental wellbeing, empowering families to identify and meet their own goals.
Groups like the Irish Traveller Movement and Pavee Point advocate for Traveller rights, promote equality, and provide cultural awareness and training, while others focus on improving Traveller women’s opportunities and community development.
These organisations support Traveller families by providing culturally sensitive, holistic services that enhance wellbeing, education, and social inclusion while combating discrimination and social exclusion. Family support programmes help with parenting guidance, access to healthcare, and navigating legal and social systems. Mental health services tailored for Travellers work to reduce suicide and improve overall wellbeing through education, individual support, and group work. Youth services foster personal and community development skills to empower young Travellers. Many organisations also facilitate community cohesion and cultural recognition, strengthening individual and collective resilience among Traveller families.
Treoir is Ireland’s national federation of services for unmarried parents and their children, providing a free, confidential specialist information and referral service on legal, social welfare, and parenting issues. It supports parents who are not married to each other—whether living together or apart—as well as their extended families and professionals working with them.
Treoir promotes shared parenting, helps parents understand complex family law topics like custody, maintenance, and guardianship, and offers practical parenting tips to foster good parenting relationships.
The organisation advocates for equal rights for children born to unmarried parents and campaigns for legal reforms to ensure all parents have the same rights regardless of marital status or gender.
Treoir also provides workshops tailored to various groups around Ireland, produces specialised publications, engages in policy advocacy, and contributes to research projects regarding unmarried parents and their families. It manages the Teen Parents Support Programme and collaborates with a diverse membership including community groups, maternity hospitals, and social service agencies. Additionally, Treoir offers conflict and communication coaching, mediation support, and assistance in building and resolving parenting agreements to help parents navigate co-parenting challenges effectively.
Founded in 2016 by Ciara Garvan, WorkJuggle is an Irish company that operates as a digital platform connecting skilled professionals seeking flexible work arrangements with companies in need of part-time or project-based roles. Catering to individuals prioritising work-life balance or with caregiving responsibilities, the platform offers job opportunities across various industries like IT, finance, marketing, and administration. Job seekers can create profiles detailing their skills, experience, and availability, while companies can post listings and search for suitable candidates.
The company also provides training in Design Thinking, Managing a Hybrid Workforce, Unconscious Bias Training, Storytelling in Business, Inclusive Leadership, Mentoring in Business, Professional Presence,and Female Leadership. In addition to giving advice on creating and designing CV and LinkedIn pages.
WorkJuggle promotes an agile and inclusive workforce by championing flexible work arrangements, empowering professionals to pursue rewarding careers according to their terms.
WorkEqual began in 2011 as the Irish wing of global initiative Dress for Success when it was started in Ireland by designer and presenter Sonya Lennon. Ten years later the charity rebranded as WorkEqual and became an independent Irish organisation.
CEO Su Duff explains WorkEqual’s vision as ‘empowering progress towards an Ireland where everyone’s skills and potential are recognised, and by a society that champions workplace equality and fair remuneration’.
WorkEqual is working towards this goal in two ways:
– Firstly, together with corporate partners and volunteers, as WorkEqual delivers services completely free of charge to women hoping to enter or re-enter the workforce and move towards economic independence. These services include mentoring, styling, and coaching for interviews, as well as career consultancy.
– The second way is through advocacy work on closing the gender pay gap that currently exists in Ireland. WorkEqual continually strives to advance more equitable workplaces through meaningful engagement with government, business, and civil society leaders.
While WorkEqual research found 74% of Ireland’s men and women want closure of the gender pay gap as a priority of business and government, gender pay reporting is often seen as merely a compliance issue. In reality, ‘closing the gap’ presents an opportunity to build practical tools for Ireland to move towards a more equal society. All genders have an active role in creating the solution –this is allyship in action.
Anybody struggling to succeed can get in touch to use Work Equal services and every effort is made to meet each client where they are in their personal journey.
Summary: Empowers women back into the workforce through mentoring and coaching, while advocating for workplace equality and closing the gender pay gap.