Volunteer organisers sought to bring Daffodil Day to Cork town

An appeal has been launched to recruit volunteer organisers to help bring Daffodil Day to the seaside town of Kinsale, it has been announced.

The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) is urgently seeking volunteer community organisers to bring Daffodil Day to Kinsale on March 28, the day which sees people across the country conduct street sales and shake buckets to raise funds for the charity.

Millions of euro have been raised by Daffodil Day events over the years since it was first organised in Ireland in 1988, inspired by a similar initiative in Canada which started in 1957.

Last year, the Irish Cancer Society reported that it had raised €5.7m in 2023 and the figure was €4.7m for the previous year.

It is estimated that in excess of 10,000 people across Ireland volunteer their time each year to help support Daffodil Day in their community. Recruiting, coordinating, and managing these volunteers, and the delivery of local Daffodil Day street sales, requires the support of local organisers to make it a success, the Irish Cancer Society said in a statement this week.

In the statement, the society said that the public’s generous donations on the day would fund cancer research and support services for people around the county affected by cancer.

According to community organiser Siobhán Connaghan, the organisation has a great group of volunteers who always support Daffodil Day.

“They show up with smiles on their faces, regardless of the weather, and spend a little time chatting or listening to stories,” she said.

“Cancer impacts so many people, so knowing this small act of giving my time to support Daffodil Day and the services the Irish Cancer Society provides can make a significant difference to someone on a cancer journey in our community, and makes it very worthwhile.”

Mary Quinn, who is an Irish Cancer Society volunteer manager, said the society was open to applications from those interested in being volunteer organisers to set up and arrange Daffodil Day activities in Kinsale and their own communities.

“We want people to get involved and take a lead in organising fundraising activities for Daffodil Day in March 2025 in their local community with their own team of volunteers, family, and friends,” Ms Quinn said.

If you are interested in applying to be a Daffodil Day community organiser, visit: www.cancer.ie/ways-to-help/volunteer/daffodil-day-community-organiser.

Anyone with questions or concerns about cancer can contact the Irish Cancer Society support line on freephone 1800 200 700 or email supportline@irishcancer.ie.