Saturday March 26 2011
HE might not be good at building things out of Lego but former 'X Factor' winner Shayne Ward is a dab hand at winning hearts.
Mothers, nurses and young patients at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, in Dublin, were all agreed on one thing yesterday -- there is just "something" about Shayne. Call it "the X factor", if you must.
The pop star, in Ireland on his 'Up Close and Personal Tour', slipped into St John's Ward yesterday to spend some time with children who have cancer and blood disorders, acting as the "special delivery guy" for boxes of Lego donated by the toy company.
The singer signed autographs and posed for pictures. Gerard Gaffney (6), from Lusk, Co Dublin, played with him on the tractors. And the look on the face of Niamh McNulty (16), from Convoy, Co Donegal, said it all as her idol posed for a picture beside her.
Awaiting a bone marrow transplant, she is a "huge fan" and had seen him in concert at Belfast. But did she ever think she would get to play Lego with him? "No," Niamh said in disbelief, watching as Shayne grappled with the pieces, laughing at his own attempts.
Shayne divulged he was keen to move to Ireland some time in the near future. "I'm going to move here -- of course," he said. "I love it and I have family here."
He said he hoped his visit would give the children a boost, adding: "A smile on their faces is the biggest reward I could get."
Mothers, nurses and young patients at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, in Dublin, were all agreed on one thing yesterday -- there is just "something" about Shayne. Call it "the X factor", if you must.
The pop star, in Ireland on his 'Up Close and Personal Tour', slipped into St John's Ward yesterday to spend some time with children who have cancer and blood disorders, acting as the "special delivery guy" for boxes of Lego donated by the toy company.
The singer signed autographs and posed for pictures. Gerard Gaffney (6), from Lusk, Co Dublin, played with him on the tractors. And the look on the face of Niamh McNulty (16), from Convoy, Co Donegal, said it all as her idol posed for a picture beside her.
Awaiting a bone marrow transplant, she is a "huge fan" and had seen him in concert at Belfast. But did she ever think she would get to play Lego with him? "No," Niamh said in disbelief, watching as Shayne grappled with the pieces, laughing at his own attempts.
Shayne divulged he was keen to move to Ireland some time in the near future. "I'm going to move here -- of course," he said. "I love it and I have family here."
He said he hoped his visit would give the children a boost, adding: "A smile on their faces is the biggest reward I could get."
- Nicola Anderson
Irish Independent
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