On Saturday, 6th September, LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's Hospice rolled out the red carpet at the Odeon Cinema in Charlestown for one of the most magical events in the LauraLynn calendar, The LauraLynn Oscars. Six incredible movies were screened during the glamorous event, which was MC'd by actress, author and screenwriter Amy Huberman, who also contributed as a scriptwriter to the project.
The incredible LauraLynn children and families playing a starring role this year came from all across the country. The Lannen and Cawley families from Dublin , the Boyce family from Limerick, the Gee and Hoare families from Laois, and the Phelan family from Tipperary.
Each family took home a prestigious award for their cinematic masterpiece:
The Boyce Family (Limerick)
Best Entertainment for "Knights of the Green and Red"
The Cawley Family (Dublin)
Best Action for "Dino Hard"
The Lannen Family (Dublin)
Best Fantasy for "Nellie the Good"
The Gee Family (Laois)
Best Drama for "Madison's Magic Switch"
The Hoare Family (Laois)
Best Adventure for "Harry's Hugs"
The Phelan Family (Tipperary)
Best Comedy for "Never Home Alone"
Liz O'Donoghue, Assistant Director of Nursing at LauraLynn, described the atmosphere on the day:
"It is positively electric here in the Odeon. Delighted to say that all categories were filled and every family went home bursting with pride and joy with an Oscar in hand."
Amy Huberman, who MC'd the event and also wrote for the project, reflected on what makes the day so special:
"It just gets better and better and better. And what makes it so special is the joy on the day, the joy in filming it and just a big community coming together and celebrating such a special time for the families."
Actor and director Domhnall Gleeson, who attended as a guest, was moved by what he saw on screen:
"I mean, I'm not going to pick any favourites, but there are some performances in there that I absolutely loved and the whole thing just made me happy, which is an incredible thing when you think about it. I think the people who are here deal with a lot with incredible grace, and it's been a privilege to be a part of it."
For the families, the day left a lasting impression. Angela Hoare, Harry's mum, said:
"It means the world to us, I suppose, for making memories, and you know you have something that you have forever. And it was just amazing for Harry as well - he just loved it."
Gemma Gee, Madison's mum, agreed:
"It's brought such joy into our lives this year. If it's been a hard year, these little things coming up for the Oscars throughout the year have just been absolutely fantastic."
And for Siobhán Boyce, mum to Dáithí and Micheál, the message to other families considering taking part next year is simple:
"I would say definitely, definitely apply. I mean, you might be nervous and it might not be your thing, but the girls are wonderful and they make you feel totally at ease. What a fantastic memory to have forevermore."
To relive the magic of the day, you can watch the official highlights video from the 2026 LauraLynn Oscars below, capturing the joy, laughter and unforgettable moments shared by all six families.
The LauraLynn Oscars exemplifies the importance of creating moments of joy and cherished memories. LauraLynn is Ireland's only Children's Hospice supporting children and their families across the country. To support the work LauraLynn does please see the various ways to help or donate now.
