Sunny or not, Daffodil Day will brighten Mullingar up no end

Our recent snows are now but a bad memory and daffodils are bursting into bloom, announcing the arrival of spring and reminding us that Daffodil Day can’t be far away.

This year Daffodil Day is this Friday, March 23, and Mullingar Daffodil Day committee, together with local businesses and traders, are planning to paint Mullingar yellow with fresh daffodils, balloons and posters on display throughout the town to mark the main fundraising event on the Irish Cancer Society’s calendar. 

On Market Square, Donal Kelly with his beautiful Bernese mountain dog Holly in her full Daffodil Day regalia will add their usual sparkle and excitement to the day.

Donal Kelly and Holly, a Bernese Mountain Dog, collecting funds on Daffodil Day last year.

 

Once again local schools are coming on board with many varied and innovative fundraising events to coincide with the day.

More than 100 volunteers will be located throughout the town on the day selling daffodil pins, silks, badges and fresh daffodils and they hope that everyone will give generously to this worthy cause. 

Many of the volunteers are cancer survivors, or have family members affected by cancer.

All funds raised go to supporting cancer patients and their loved ones by providing free support through nursing care, advocacy and counselling as well as funding ongoing research.

The Mullingar Daffodil Day committee wish to thank everyone for their generous contributions and support over the years, with special thanks for the wonderful volunteers who year after year are out on the streets of the town irrespective of weather conditions. 

Thanks also to the children, their parents and teachers for their wonderful fundraising efforts and to you , the people of Mullingar area, for your continued support in the fight against cancer.

“We look forward to meeting you all on a, hopefully sunny Friday.”
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View of a night nurse with the Irish Cancer Society
Sue McDonagh from Castletown Geoghegan knows well the difference the money raised on Daffodil Day can make.

A night nurse with the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) and a palliative care specialist, her work is funded with money raised on events such as Daffodil Day. Although her work as a night nurse is varied, the one constant is the relief it gives to patients and their the families.

“I could be with someone who is dying or even it could be giving someone a night’s sleep. Being there gives the family peace of mind and helps them recharge for the next day,” said Sue.

By providing nurses, Sue says that the ICS are enabling people to die at home if that is their wish, something which is becoming increasingly popular. While it might not be easy, she says that her role is rewarding.

“It is a privilege to be in someone’s home for eight hours. You get to know them as a person and get to know the family.”

“I would encourage people to keep buying. The amount of times that I’ve talked to people and they said: ‘When I bought the daffodil pin on Daffodil Day little did I realise the impact it could have.”

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Below in a page from this week's Westmeath Examiner on Daffodil Day 2018.