Children with asthma and their families took part in the second annual Asthma Camp at the Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise over the weekend, organised jointly by the Asthma Society of Ireland and the Respiratory & Allergy Department at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.
The free two-day camp, which ran on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July, offered 40 places for children aged 6 to 10 with a diagnosis of asthma, along with their parents or carers. Siblings without asthma were also welcome to join in the fun.
The goal is that children who learn to manage their asthma confidently from a young age will have fewer flare-ups, miss fewer days of school, and need fewer trips to the GP or hospital in the long run. It should also mean less worry for parents, who often carry a lot of the responsibility that comes with a child’s condition.
The camp is built around active learning rather than classroom-style learning, recognising that children often learn more effectively when they are moving, participating and having fun than when they are sitting behind a desk. There were no lectures or worksheets. Instead, kids got stuck into arts and crafts to learn how the lungs work, and met “Andy Asthma” and giant inflatable lungs to learn what their respiratory system looks like.
Additionally, a traffic light game, “Red, Yellow, Go!”, helped them recognise when their asthma was getting worse, a physiotherapist ran a breathing session called “Breathe Easy”, and a yoga class helped settle busy minds. While the children took part in camp activities, parents joined a dedicated session with healthcare professionals and the Asthma Society team, providing an opportunity to build their knowledge, ask questions and share experiences in a supportive environment. Tipperary hurler Bryan O’Mara, fresh off an All-Ireland win last year, even dropped in on Saturday to lead the exercise session.
The camp is grounded in research carried out by specialist nurses Alison Russell and Lisa Egan at MRHP, which found that while parents are usually taught how to manage their child’s asthma, children themselves are rarely given the chance to learn how to manage it for themselves, even though kids as young as seven are capable of picking up these skills. Camps like this one are designed to close that gap early, before bad habits have a chance to set in.
This is the second year the camp has run, and organisers hope to expand it in the coming years, with a view to reaching more children and families with asthma across Ireland.
“One in five children in Ireland will develop asthma, and while the focus has traditionally been on supporting parents to manage their child’s asthma, this approach is aimed at empowering children with health literacy that can last a lifetime”, said Eilis Ní Chaithnía, CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland. “The Asthma Camp brings children together to learn more about their asthma and lung health through fun, interactive, and age-appropriate activities. It’s innovative, inspiring and impactful, and we can’t wait to see this camp grow.”
Olivia Lafferty, Director of Nursing at Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, added, “The research conducted by the specialist respiratory and allergy nurses identified that while asthma education in Ireland often focuses on parents and caregivers, children are not always given the chance to learn and talk about their asthma in a way that makes sense to them. This camp closes that gap. Over the weekend, children who started out unsure of their symptoms and triggers leave with a real understanding of their asthma. Seeing them walk away more confident and better equipped to take an active role in their asthma care is exactly why we do this.”
Eileen Burke, Hospital Manager, Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, said: “It is inspiring to see children learning to manage their asthma in a way that is fun, engaging and empowering. The Asthma Camp is a valuable resource in helping children build their confidence and practical skills while supporting their parents and carers to play an active role in this health journey. Initiatives like this show how learning through a fun experience can make a lasting difference for children living with Asthma. I would like to thank our nursing staff, multidisciplinary colleagues and the Asthma Society of Ireland for their dedication and commitment to making this programme such a success.”
