Meet our Irish fundraising heroes

We’re lucky to have some incredible people who fundraise for us: our fantastic fundraisers will inspire you to get involved.

Jackie Carroll ran the VHI Mini Marathon and raised €270

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“I hosted a fundraising concert”

Aideen and Oliver in Ireland with fundraising cheque for €1,657.

In March 2019, Oliver Stephens from County Wexford organised a community gala concert at Shamrock Hall in Kilanerin, Gorey. It attracted plenty of local talent, with volunteers giving up their time to support Sightsavers. Oliver was MC for the evening and his efforts raised €1,657.

Performers on the night included the McGonigle sisters, Perfect Friction, Cliodhna O’Connell, the Moynihan brothers, the Stephens brothers and Cathal Byrne.

“It felt right to donate to charity”

Dublin-based author Brian Grehan has donated the proceeds of his two books to Sightsavers. ‘The Well Travelled Road’ is a compendium of short stories and poems, while ‘The Leenane Inspector’ is his first novel.

“The UK Arts Council paid for the printing of my first book. With no expenses to cover, it felt right to donate the proceeds to charity. I was given a flyer advertising Sightsavers, and the connection between books and sight seemed so appropriate.”

“I make St Bridget’s crosses to sell”

Patricia Cooney, from Ballyconnell in Co. Cavan, has been fundraising for Sightsavers since 2003. “I make traditional woven St Bridget’s crosses, and sell them for St Bridget’s Day on 1 February. One year I raised nearly €3,000.

“The first time I saw an ad for Sightsavers, I thought about my own son. When he was only six, he lost the sight in one of his eyes from a rare infection, so the idea that I can make a difference to another child’s life – to help them grow up with their sight – is so important to me.”

“I wanted to give someone else the gift of vision”

Jackie Carroll raises her arms at the finish line of the VHI Mini Marathon, standing underneath the clock reading 2:11:40.

Jackie Carroll, from Santry in Dublin 7, ran the VHI Mini Marathon and raised €270 in aid of Sightsavers. “I’ve always been very short sighted, but developed a cataract a couple of years ago. The sight in my right eye deteriorated very quickly, and by the time I got an appointment my left eye was starting to become a problem too.

“Luckily I had two operations before I lost my sight. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have vision problems that can be fixed so readily. It seemed appropriate that I try to help.”

Group of people wearing Sightsavers yellow t-shirts.

Please do get in touch with any queries. We’d love to hear from you!

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For answers to some of the most common queries, see our frequently asked questions.

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