Pass the Present News

Meet the Mum who invented Pass the Present!

In January 2006, Oxfam Ireland was approached by a Dublin-based mother of three, Rosemary Lafferty, who had an idea which has since become known as Pass the Present.

The idea came to Rosemary when she saw how many presents her daughter received on her fifth birthday. "After the presents were opened, many of them were never played with again and I really wanted to do something about this waste before it was repeated on her next birthday", explains Rosemary.

"I still wanted her to get some presents as opening presents is all part of the excitement of a birthday - that's why Pass the Present is all about asking just a few guests . That way the birthday child gets the best of both worlds".

Rosemary then worked one morning a week as a volunteer with Oxfam Ireland to bring her idea to fruition.

Rosemary is married to Tom and is a full-time mother to their three young children, Ailbhe (9), Declan (7) and Cillian (2). The youngest of six children, Rosemary is originally from Kilmovee, Co Mayo.