With over two hundred days left to Christmas, members of the Kerry Hospice Foundation are busy planning and preparing for the launch of their eagerly awaited, and much in demand, creative Christmas cards.

This year they are enlisting the help of the Kerry public to come up with creative designs for the unique collection of cards which are a major strand of funding for the charity.

“Kerry Hospice Foundation is looking for your ideas for our annual Christmas Card pack. All artists from around the county are invited to submit paintings of Christmas and we are open to your interpretation of what Christmas is for you. As a guideline we might suggest something on the lines of winter country scenes, busy street scenes, some famous landmarks from around the county all with a Christmas theme,” Ursula O’Connell from the Kerry Hospice Foundation, said.

The Christmas card committee would also encourage artists of all abilities and ages to create some nativity scenes to embrace the message of Christmas and some playful scenes to include children, the heart of Christmas for all families.

The card will measure 19x14cms and can be landscape or portrait.

“The Christmas Cards are very popular with our supporters and a huge part of our fundraising campaign each year. This is an ideal forum for the successful artists to showcase their creative work. For many years we have been fortunate, honoured and delighted to have the incredible support of Kerry Group who has generously sponsored the cards. This has enabled us to produce a top quality product that wings its way all over the world at Christmas time.”

Kerry Hospice Foundation is asking artists and the public to submit their work by June 24. Paintings can be dropped into, or posted to, the Suaimhneas Centre at the Palliative Care Unit, Kerry General Hospital, Tralee.

All work will be returned in due course. For any further details please contact Ursula O'Connell, Christmas Card Committee at 087 7450126.