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'Longest coffee morning' in the world to be held in memory of Saoirse Ruane

Donal O'Regan, 21 Mar

THE 10th annual longest coffee ‘morning’ in the world in Pallasgreen

will be in special memory of Saoirse Ruane, who captured the nation’s

hearts on The Late Late Show.

The 12-year-old Galway girl passed away from cancer earlier this month.

Mike O’Donoghue, who organises the event, said Saoirse was due to come

to Pallasgreen to plant a tree and unveil a plaque for all those

affected by cancer, last year.

“She couldn’t come down because she got a setback. We became great

friends through our fundraiser. As a group we used to send her cards

and Mass cards. We got candles lit in Lourdes and we got gifts in

Lourdes for her. We kept in contact constantly.

"Our 10th event fundraiser will be in tribute to her and we will light

a special candle for her,” said Mike, who thinks of Saoirse every time

he sees the tree she was due to plant.

Mike started the unique fundraiser for the Irish Cancer Society with

local girls Saoirse Corbett, Tara Campbell, Sarah Dillon in 2015.

This year’s event take places this Friday, March 22 in Mike’s

Pallasgreen home (V94AP0). All are welcome to his wheelchair-friendly

abode to have a cup of tea or coffee, enjoy a slice of cake or bun and

donate however much they like.

There is also a GoFundMe page.

Mike’s team of volunteers has grown over the years with Ellie and Sarah

Phelan, Aine Looby, Mike O’Riordan joining the ranks.

This year they welcome Mike’s 15-year-old grandniece Lily McMahon. They

even kept it going through Covid by substituting the coffee 'morning'

for a sleep-out and fast.

READ MORE: Limerick lady with a sweet tooth celebrates 107th birthday

“I can’t say enough about them. They are special people. The work they

put into it is incredible and they wouldn’t miss it for the world. They

are coming back from Dublin, Cork and as far away as Letterkenny for

Friday,” said Mike.

Over the nine years a total of €82,163 has been donated to the Irish

Cancer Society. In 2019, they received a certificate after creating a

world record for the longest coffee day ever in the world - 17 hours

and 20 minutes.

Last year, the first person arrived at 7.30am and the last left around

midnight. Mike said they will cut a ribbon and light candles on Friday

but “it is not about our 10 years, it is about fundraising for the

Irish Cancer Society”.

“We will have a remembrance board where you can write the name of a

loved one or friend who has been affected by cancer in any way. Mass

will be said for all of them at a later date,” he said.