Local Daffodil Day organiser, Marie Walsh wishes to thank all the collectors who braved the elements for this year’s collection In Castleisland on March 24th.
The amount collected locally is resting now at €8,192.50 and this is all due to the contributions made by the public.
“This money provides free care and support for cancer patients and their loved ones across Ireland as well as funding life changing cancer research,” said Ms. Walsh.
Society Hoped for €4M
While no final, national collection figures have been made public to date, The Irish Cancer Society hoped that 2023 would be it biggest Daffodil Day yet and were hoping to raise €4 million in funding to support its services and life-changing research.
The society ensures that every person affected by cancer in Ireland has the support they need, when they need it most.
In 1988 Prof. Austin Darragh led the first Daffodil Day collection in Ireland, inspired by the campaign in Canada.
First Daffodil Day Here in 1989
The following year in 1989, a group of Irish Country Women’s Association members from the Castleisland area led by their president the late Monica Prendiville held the first Daffodil Day collection in Castleisland.
Monica would go to bring great honour to her community and organisation locally by her election to the position of National President of the association which she held from 1991 to 1994.
Daffodil Day has been held every year since and raises a large portion of the yearly funds required for the society to carry out its mission.
Senator Keogan’s Challenge Accepted by Cllr. Farrelly
As a practical supporter of the local Daffodil Day collection Independent Cllr. Charlie Farrelly responded last year to The Daffodil Challenge thrown down by Independent Senator Sharon Keogan.
Senator Keogan funded packs of daffodils for 50 youth groups and schools around the country to plant and raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society.
Cllr. Farrelly worked here with Gaelscoil Aogáin and Castleisland Community College in the planting of the bulbs last year and they were harvested this year and donated to the local collectors to be sold as part of the 2023 campaign.
You can contact The Maine Valley Post on… Anyone in The Maine Valley Post catchment area who would like to send us news and captioned photographs for inclusion can send them to: jreidy@mainevalleypost.com Queries about advertising and any other matters regarding The Maine Valley Post can also be sent to that address or just ring: 087 23 59 467.
