At the Daffodil Day launch in Croke Park in January, when Miriam O’Callaghan was MC, were, Edel Shovlin, acting CEO, Irish Cancer Society, Marie O’Toole, chairperson, Mullingar Daffodil Day committee, Miriam Finn, Miriam O’Callaghan, Bernie Mulligan, Geraldine Ring and Sarah Valliere, ICS community fundraising coordinator.

Local committee preparing for Daffodil Day 2026

Published: Mon 9 Mar 2026, 8:00 AM

The message from the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) as Daffodil Day approaches is, ‘we won’t stop in the stand-up to cancer’.

Daffodil Day is the society’s biggest annual fundraising event and this year it’s on Friday March 20.

A record €6.6 million was raised in 2025 – and the society hope to increase that in 2026.

As only five per cent of the €25 million the ICS need each year come from the state, the proceeds of Daffodil Day are essential to pay for the range of services and support to cancer patients and their families across Ireland.

Those services include free transport to treatments, night nursing care, the freephone support line, the 13 Daffodil centres, the children’s fund and the all important funding of cancer research projects in Ireland. Cancer research is a driving force in improving treatment and outcomes, and in quality of life beyond cancer.

The message from the ICS of ‘we won’t stop’ is one that they are committed to in order to provide the best possible services and support to cancer patients locally and nationally.

In Mullingar, plans are well advanced for this year’s campaign. The momentum of the Mullingar Daffodil Day committee is driven by the generous support of the public, the co-operation of many voluntary organisations, business and schools.

An important aspect is the continued contribution of more than 200 volunteers who give their time on Daffodil Day. The volunteers will be based at many locations around the town selling daffodil silks, pins and other items. There are 13 locations around Mullingar.

There are also locations on the day in Castlepollard, Ballinalack and Kilbeggan, and Daffodil Day there is organised by committee members and supported by local volunteers.

Last year in Mullingar and surrounding areas and schools, more than €57,000 was raised for Daffodil Day, and that is a testament to the generous people of the town, surrounding areas and schools.

How your support helped cancer patients in Westmeath in 2025

• 708 free transport lifts to bring 75 patients to and from their treatments.

• 260 nights of night nursing care to allow cancer patients at the end of life to spend their final days at home, surrounded by their loved ones.

• 245 free counselling sessions for those affected by cancer.

• 214 supportive conversations with people affected by cancer through the support line and the Daffodil Centre nurses.

The Mullingar committee are grateful to the volunteers who have supported them over the years and to many new volunteers who have joined them. They will be out on Daffodil Day showing their commitment and loyalty to a great cause. So please support the Irish Cancer Society appeal on Friday 20 March.

The Irish Cancer support line is available at freephone 1800 200 700 weekdays from 9am-5pm.