Carlow boy wins Oscar at LauraLynn Children’s Awards

FOUR-year-old Theo Morelli Messias from Carlow town experienced his own Hollywood moment on Saturday when he won Best Entertainment Movie at the LauraLynn Oscars for his starring role in ‘Theo’s Tiny Take-Off’.

The glamorous red-carpet event at Odeon Cinema in Charlestown, Mayo saw six LauraLynn families celebrate their cinematic achievements in one of the charity's most cherished annual events.

For Theo’s family, it marked an extraordinary milestone in their journey with LauraLynn, the children’s hospice that provides care and support to families dealing with life-limiting conditions.

“It’s a different experience. We’ve never done this before. It’s incredible,” said Theo’s father, Marco Morelli Messias. “I couldn’t imagine myself doing something like this and now because of Theo we did. We’ve experienced something totally different in our lives. And it’s just amazing.” The LauraLynn Oscars represents far more than a typical film project. Now in its eighth year, the initiative provides children with life-limiting conditions and their families the opportunity to create their own unique movies with support from industry professionals. Each family becomes the star of their own story, working alongside expert writers and filmmakers to bring their vision to life.

Michelle Hartnett, senior play therapist at LauraLynn, explained the significance of the project: “The LauraLynn Oscars is a truly unique therapeutic initiative that goes far beyond traditional filmmaking. It offers families an extraordinary opportunity to explore their relationships, share creative stories, and collaborate in ways they may never have imagined.” The project began as a film workshop for siblings, developed by Ms Hartnett after researching sibling loss. It has since evolved into a comprehensive family-focused event that strengthens bonds between family members and creates lasting memories.

“This project is about so much more than making a film; it’s about building deeper connections, creating lasting memories, and strengthening the bonds between family members, extended family, and the wider community,” Ms Hartnett continued.

The initiative is coordinated by Hartnett and Project Coordinator Lorna Collins, supported by long-standing LauraLynn volunteer Joanna Butler and a team of industry professionals and volunteers.

For families like Theo’s, the experience culminates in what Hartnett describes as “a spectacular Oscars style celebration, where families proudly showcase their films and share in the joy of recognising each other's creativity and contributions.” LauraLynn’s holistic approach ensures support extends to the entire family unit – parents, siblings, grandparents, and extended family. This care model allows children to simply be children while giving parents precious time to step away from full-time caring roles.

The charity currently provides support to 10 families across Carlow, with the LauraLynn Oscars serving as a powerful reminder of the joy and creativity that can flourish even in challenging circumstances.

As Ms Hartnett noted: “What makes this initiative so important is that it empowers families to become active storytellers and see their own narratives come alive on screen. Most importantly, it gives the families and their guests a magical day to stand in the spotlight together, creating moments of joy and beauty that will be cherished for a lifetime.”