Appletree Childcare in Glenullin to mark milestone 20th anniversary

Plans are well underway at a County Derry nursery as proud colleagues and children prepare to celebrate the setting's milestone 20^th anniversary this weekend.

Appletree Childcare in Glenullin are set to host a fun day this Saturday, October 12, to mark the special occasion.

The event, which runs from 1pm to 3pm, is open to all past and present members of the Appletree Childcare community.

ABOVE: One of the rooms in Appletree.

On the day there will be a bouncy castle, face painting, outdoor fun, a professional buffet, exciting surprises and lots more.

Appletree was founded in 2001 by Glenullin woman Patricia Mullan, who sadly passed away in April this year.

Patricia saw a need for childcare provision in the area and so she helped to set up Glenullin Childcare Trust, an afterschools club, at Glenullin Resource Centre.

As numbers grew, Patricia recognised the requirement for a full time childcare provider in the local community.

ABOVE: The late Patricia Mullan.

Together with a dedicated committee of volunteers, they set sought funding to acquire premises for the nursery and were successful.

In 2004 they moved into their new home at Tirkeeran Road.

The building, owned by Hugh Arthur McNicholl, had previously been run as The Colorado Bar, and the committee decided to name the new facility Appletree Childcare, a name inspired by an apple tree which was planted more than 100 years ago and is visible from the premises.

The building was officially opened in October 2004 with less than ten staff and a few volunteers.

At the time, the baby room, toddler room and afterschools club operated out of the premise's ground floor.

Betty Anne O'Kane, one of the trustees on the original board, who was responsible for designing the Appletree logo, recalls travelling to Ikea in Scotland (the store hadn't opened a branch in Belfast at that stage) with Patricia to kit out the facility.

“There is no way this place would exist without Patricia, she was just so knowledgeable and put in so many hours over the years. She was relentless, she worked all day and then worked all night for Appletree, filling out forms and doing what needed to be done,” Betty Anne said.

“Patricia had a group of people who were willing to row in behind her, who just followed her lead. Funding was always a battle but Patricia was just phenomenal, the drive was there with her and she led with her wee posse behind her. To see what Appletree has become today is just amazing.”

ABOVE: Appletree Childcare in Glenullin.

With numbers steadily growing, renovation works got underway in 2016 to open up more rooms on the first floor of the building.

In 2017, current setting manager, Deirdre Maguire joined as a nursery assistant and 'absolutely fell in love with Appletree'.

ABOVE: Betty Anne O'Kane (left) with Appletree Childcare Manager, Deirdre Maguire.

The Greenlough woman, who had previously worked in a nursery in Magherafelt, said coming from a town setting to a rural setting was 'like chalk and cheese' but she grew very attached to her colleagues and local families very quickly.

Deirdre was successful in getting the position of Deputy Manager and a short time later Manager of the setting.

“My favourite thing about the job is without doubt the people – the kids, my colleagues and the parents – it doesn't compare to any other job,” she said.

“You see kids crying going home because they don't want to leave and that to us means everything.”

Appletree has won three awards over the years and it's no surprise given the service it offers.

The setting now provides childcare for 80 to 90 families from the areas of Glenullin and Garvagh, Dungiven, Drumsurn, Limavady, Kilrea, Aghadowey, Ballerin and Swatragh.

Deirdre says being able to put something in place and seeing children get the benefit out of it has been one of her proudest professional achievements to date.

ABOVE: Staff pictured at a recent awards ceremony.

“I was involved in the transformation of the outdoor area and it has been one of my favourite things, it has provided hours of safe play for the children, who now refer to it as the park,” she said.

“Everyone that has been in Appletree over the years has brought something to it and we are looking forward to celebrating its success over the years with the fun day.”