Conor McGregor makes significant PPE donation to Cork hospital

Mixed martial arts fighter, Conor McGregor has made a substantial donation of personal protective equipment to a Cork hospital.

On Monday, Mícheál Sheridan, CEO of the Mercy University Hospital Foundation thanked the Notorious fighter on twitter for donating thousands of pieces of PPE to the Mercy University Hospital, saying “some very happy porters” had collected the donations this morning.

Speaking to the Echo, Mr Sheridan said that while the HSE had secured significant amounts of PPE, that to be able to receive such a substantial donation from Conor McGregor, at a time when there is a huge demand for PPE globally, was "really welcome."

The donation is one of a number of similar donations which McGregor has made to hospitals around the country in recent weeks, after the UFC star pledged to purchase €1 million of PPE for hospitals.

Earlier this month, the Mercy University Hospital launched an appeal to raise funds to support the doctors, nurses, and staff on the frontline working tirelessly to save lives during the COVID-19 outbreak.

It said that while the HSE and the Government were funding ventilators, extra beds and extra staffing costs, other medical equipment would be vital in keeping the most critically ill patients alive.

Mícheál Sheridan said there has been an "amazing response" to the appeal to date both from the public and from the business community. 

He highlighted how a listener appeal on 96fm and C103 had raised more than €77,500, adding that people were waiting for an opportunity to support a local hospital. 

He also praised the many businesses which have supported the appeal including Phelan's Pharmacy which had donated €10,000 to purchase 20 iPads to be used by patients who were isolated with COVID-19, and Amazon in Cork who had donated €7,500 which was used to upgrade facilities at a house owned by the Foundation near the hospital so it could be used by staff. 

A significant number of other businesses have also supported the appeal.