We’re spreading festive cheer with our latest list of heart-warming stories from around the country
Penneys donate €100,000 to the Late Late Toy Show Appeal
Penneys launched its RTÉ Late Late Toy Show collection, celebrating 10 years of partnership with the national broadcaster. This year, Penneys is donating €100,000 to the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal and Children’s Health Foundation.
Pictured at the launch of the collection were adorable two-year-old twins Lennon and Hallie Ryan, stealing the spotlight in their cosy Penneys Late Late Toy Show pyjamas. Their parents, Sarah and Emma, are part of the Penneys family, working in Penneys Nutgrove and Primark’s HQ, Arthur Ryan House.
Sing for Simon: Stars join Dublin Simon Community and RTÉ Orchestra for Christmas Concert
Dublin Simon Community will present Sing for Simon 2024, a special Christmas fundraising concert to raise crucial funds to support efforts to end homelessness. This year’s event, in collaboration with the renowned RTÉ Concert Orchestra and featuring performances by Irish music legends Mary Black, Mary Coughlan and Angeline Ball, will take place on Friday 13 December, at The Helix, Dublin, marking 55 years of essential service to those in need. Click here for tickets.
Boots Night Walk raises record amount for Irish Cancer Society Night Nurses
Boots Ireland’s Night Walk for Night Nurses has achieved a remarkable fundraising milestone, raising a record €189,977 for the Irish Cancer Society Night Nursing Service. This incredible generosity will fund approximately 370 nights of end-of-life care, allowing patients to spend their final days at home surrounded by loved ones and providing essential respite for their families. Find out more here.
Cork Restaurant earns coveted spot in the Michelin Guide
Rare at The Blue Haven in Kinsale was recently announced as one of three Irish additions to The Michelin Guide – Great Britain & Ireland. Described by Michelin as “understated and engaging,” the guide highlights Rare’s rustic-chic dining room and open kitchen, offering a personal touch with chefs delivering dishes to the table. Inspired by the South Indian flavours of Tamil Nadu, Executive Head Chef Meeran Manzoor incorporates bold ingredients like chilli, coconut, tamarind, and date, all paired with West Cork’s finest local produce. See rare1784.ie for more.
Double Olympic gold medallist Fintan McCarthy raises funds for addiction charity
Double Olympic gold medallist Fintan McCarthy joined Mediolanum International Funds and Mediolanum International Life to support its second annual Philanthropy Collective. The illustrious evening raised €600,000 – thanks to the remarkable contribution from Fondazione Mediolanum – to help Coolmine Therapeutic Communities’ vital work in tackling addiction nationwide and Belvedere Youth Club’s mission to empower, educate, and support young people in Dublin’s North Inner City. See coolmine.ie and belvederyouthclub.ie for more.
Irish composer wins prestigious French award for documentary score
The Screen Composers Guild of Ireland (SCGI) recently announced that Wicklow-based composer for screen and SCGI member, Anna Rice, has won a Camille Award at the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris. Rice was recognized for her original score for Screen Ireland funded documentary feature, I Dream in Photos, directed by Gary Lennon and Ollie Aislin, produced by Gambit Films. Rice’s win marks a significant achievement in the international music composition landscape, for Ireland and the SCGI. Click here for more.
Oxfam Ireland and Shaws join forces for sustainable ‘Take-Back’ clothing initiative
Oxfam Ireland recently announced a partnership with Shaws Department Stores to provide customers with a simple, sustainable solution to excess clothing and textiles. The innovative take-back scheme is designed to reduce the environmental impact of fashion. The collaboration will initially roll out in three Shaws locations—Carlow, Portlaoise, and Waterford. Each of the three pilot Shaws stores will feature a take-back box and donation sacks, allowing customers to contribute pre-loved clothing. These items will then be collected, processed, and resold or recycled, giving new life to garments that might otherwise go to waste.
First ever Irish Global winner of James Dyson Award announced
Congratulations to Olivia Humphreys who is the global Medical Winner of the James Dyson Award. The 24-year-old Irish designer created Athena after she witnessed her mother’s painful battle with cancer. Athena is an affordable – and portable – device for chemotherapy patients that uses scalp cooling to prevent hair-loss. It is 1⁄20 of the price of existing technology, and can be used outside hospital, reducing the time patients are forced to spend on wards. Click here for more information on this remarkable invention.
Chupi’s ‘I Carry Your Heart Ring’ donates €100 from every sale to The Irish Heart Foundation
A timeless symbol of love, inspired by the beautiful words of E.E. Cummings, “I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart,”, Irish Jewellery designer, Chupi has created a limited edition of just 100 ‘I Carry Your Heart ‘Rings. Each piece will carry a custom engraving of the words that have inspired this piece, along with the issue number of each handmade piece. €100 from every sale will be donated to the Irish Heart Foundation to support their vital work. Click here for more information.
