Islanders gets jigsaw manufacturers to include western islands on latest edition

Kilty McMahon was not impressed when he learned that a jigsaw map of Ireland – on his wish list for Christmas – was far from complete.

The seven-year-old was astonished to realise that his own island of Inishbofin or neighbouring Inishturk didn’t make the cut.

But rather than complain about this lapse of judgement, he did what any determined young lad would do; he wrote a letter to the manufacturer, Lisheen Toys, which hand crafts the jigsaws in their workshop in Co Kerry.

“I really want a jigsaw map of Ireland but none of them have Bofin on them. Yours doesn’t either. Could you please add Inishbofin and Inishturk to the next lot of jigsaws you make so we can buy one?”

He did not receive a reply for some time. Then just before Christmas a parcel arrived. Inside was a beautifully drawn jigsaw of Ireland and on the puzzle piece for Galway were two tiny dots, denoting both offshore islands.

“He was beaming,” recalls mum Tara Keown. “He couldn’t believe he managed to get Inishbofin on the map just based on his letter. Just last week there was a problem with another toy and his sister Nancy said Kilty should write another letter. They think they can change the world now.”

It was the first time in 25 years of making the jigsaws that Lisheen Toys gave Bofin and Turk their rightful places on the popular wooden toy.

The company was founded in 1984 by Pat and Geraldine O’Connor. Geraldine is a qualified Montessori teacher while Pat worked in architecture and joinery before creating their range of Montessori products which grew into Lisheen Toys.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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