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Our response to the MRSA story, why play still matters, the campaign for enforcement — and one unforgettable hire.
From the IIHF
A short update on how the Federation is representing members, promoting the value of play, pressing for fair enforcement and sharing a story members will recognise.
This is a preview of a proposed regular member publication. We welcome suggestions for future issues.
01 / Representation
The IIHF challenged unfair implications in the coverage and sought the fuller account.
When news broke of an MRSA outbreak involving children who had played on bouncy castles, the headlines were understandably alarming. Our first concern is for those children and their families.
The outbreak followed an outdoor community gathering in autumn 2025. Three bouncy castles were at the event. Investigators considered prolonged, close physical contact during play the most plausible explanation for transmission. They could not establish the precise source or route of infection, and the inflatables were not tested for MRSA.
That distinction matters. The evidence does not show that a castle arrived contaminated or that its operator caused the outbreak. Nor should we dismiss the investigators’ finding that close contact during play was associated with the spread.
01 / Representation · continued
The IIHF wrote to news outlets that carried the story to put the distinction on record and challenge coverage that unfairly reflected on responsible hirers. The public deserves an accurate account of what investigators found and what remains unknown.
Members have also asked where this happened and who supplied the equipment. The published account places the gathering on a green in a suburb of the HSE Dublin and Midlands region. It does not identify the precise location or the hire company. We cannot say whether the operator was an IIHF member, and it would be unfair to speculate.
This is why the Federation exists: to represent members, defend fair and accurate reporting, and take genuine safety concerns seriously.
02 / The value of play
Inflatable play combines movement, challenge and shared experiences. The goal is to manage its risks responsibly.
Bouncing, climbing and sliding encourage children to move, practise balance and coordination, and test their abilities. Playing with others also gives them chances to take turns, negotiate space and grow in confidence.
Good play involves challenge. Children benefit from trying something new within sensible boundaries. An inflatable can offer that excitement when the equipment is appropriate, well maintained and properly operated.
As members know, safety is a continuing job, not a label placed on equipment once a year. It begins with sound equipment and a valid safety certificate, then depends on a suitable site, correct anchorage, operating checks, clear instructions and supervision.
02 / The value of play · continued
When the industry is in the news for a worrying reason, it is especially important to explain why safe, active play matters. Families should be able to enjoy it with confidence.
Keep certification current and inspect each inflatable before it is used.
Assess the site, anchor every required point and follow operating limits.
Give the hirer clear instructions, including supervision responsibilities.
The IIHF supports insured operators who take those responsibilities seriously. Showing customers what responsible hire looks like helps them ask better questions before booking and recognise the work behind a safe day of fun.
03 / Action for members
The IIHF is asking councils across Ireland what they are doing to check inflatable equipment.
Responsible hirers invest in annual inspections, current certificates, trained staff and safe procedures on every hire. They do so because children’s safety matters.
Since October 2025, Irish law has required inflatable play equipment made available for public use to have a valid Certificate of Safety. That provides a clear basis for tackling uncertified equipment. The requirement must also be understood and applied.
Operators who avoid those costs may be able to undercut compliant businesses. Customers may have no idea that the inflatable they have hired lacks a current certificate.
Written answers will help us build a county by county picture and identify where further action is needed.
03 / Action for members · continued
The experience of one IIHF member in Donegal shows why these questions matter. The member asked Donegal County Council how many proactive inspections it had carried out in 2026. The council confirmed that suspected breaches could be reported, but did not provide an inspection figure. It also said it had received no complaints that year. The member has raised the issue with local TDs and written directly to Minister James Browne. If checks depend on complaints, how will uncertified equipment be identified when no one reports it?
The IIHF is pursuing the issue with local authorities and political representatives. We want practical enforcement, consistent information for councils and fair treatment for operators who follow the rules.
Contact the local authority where you operate. Ask how it enforces the inflatable safety requirements, copy info@iihf.ie, and forward the reply to the Federation.
Find your council →Members should be able to see the IIHF doing more than explaining the law. Together, we are pressing for it to be applied.
04 / From the road
One filthy garden, an unforgettable collection and a booking that came back to haunt me.
We had a packed weekend ahead: 18 deliveries on Saturday and another 18 on Sunday. In those days we didn’t leave castles out overnight. Everything had to be collected, cleaned and ready for the next job.
At about 11.30 on Saturday morning, as we headed towards our last delivery, my old brick Nokia rang. It was the customer, wondering where we were. I told him we were nearly there and got the last few directions to his house.
When we reached the garden, I stopped in my tracks. It was covered in dog poo.
I told him I couldn’t put up a castle in those conditions. He looked embarrassed, apologised and started clearing a space. He promised he would clean the rest of the garden as soon as we had the castle up. I felt sorry for him and took him at his word.
We came back at 10 that night. He hadn’t cleaned the garden.
About 20 children had been playing there, many with their shoes still on. Dog dirt was everywhere: on their shoes, around the garden and all over the castle. We stood there trying to take it in. Then we looked up and saw the birthday boy sitting on the back wall, peeing into the castle.
04 / From the road · continued
The house was rocking with loud music and a party. I found the father, who by now was very drunk.
“You promised you’d clean up the dog dirt,” I said. “And your son is sitting on the wall peeing into the castle.”
“Ah, Jesus, he’s a little bollox,” he said, laughing. “You should see what he gets up to at school.”
I wasn’t laughing. I told him the castle needed a serious clean and that he would have to pay for it. “Good luck with that,” he said, looking as though he might fall asleep where he stood.
There was no point arguing. We rolled up the filthy castle as best we could, wiped our hands with some old cloths from the van and drove away. Before we reached home, we knew the van — and ourselves — stank of dog poo.
The castle was booked for a crèche at 9 the next morning. So when we got back, we inflated it again, power washed and disinfected it, and left it standing overnight to dry. We finished it off with towels in the morning and delivered it to the crèche on time. I never got the cleaning money.
04 / From the road · conclusion
A year later, I was driving along the same road when my Nokia rang. It was the same man, asking where his castle was. Somehow he had booked again without me recognising the name. The birthday boy had come around for another year.
“Ah,” I said, “you’re the man with the dog dirt. You were drunk when we collected the castle last year, and you never paid for the cleaning.”
“Oh yes. I’m sorry about that,” he said. “The garden is clean now.”
“I don’t care if the garden is spotless,” I told him. “You can keep your £90. You’re getting no bouncy castle from me.”
Every hirer has a story. Send us your most unforgettable hire. We will agree the wording with you and remove identifying details before sharing it in a future issue.