Cork mum among those taking part in Incognito art sale for children’s charity

A Cork mum whose daughter spent her first month in an intensive care unit (ICU) is among the artists taking part in this year’s Incognito secret art sale for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.

An original work of art will cost €75. The funds raised are life-changing for the 496 families currently receiving care from the charity.

Hannah McGrenera, from Bishopstown, mum to five-year old Mila Beukers, is one of the artists taking part in Incognito 2026.

Mila has been receiving in-home nursing care and respite support from the children’s foundation over the past four years.

Ms McGrenera said: “It was October 2020 and Mila was rushed to Cork University Hospital after her first night at home, as she wasn’t feeding and an alarm bell went off in my head.

“Mila spent her first month in ICU, battling seizures. What struck me was the quietness in ICU — full of babies and yet no crying. After months of tests, doctors diagnosed Mila with KCNQ2 encephalopathy, a rare genetic condition causing severe epilepsy and developmental delays.

“After a year, Mila was discharged, the hospital having exhausted its options. I remember thinking, how was I going to manage things by myself when there was a whole nursing team in the hospital.

“I was scared, defeated, and totally hopeless. It was the darkest time of my life. That’s when Jack and Jill stepped in. While everything around me was uncertain, they were my rock.”

With the foundation’s support, Ms McGrenera slowly began to find herself again: “I could escape to my art, even for a short time, without constant fear. I am more than just Mila’s carer.

“I am an artist. Knowing Mila is in safe hands gave me the confidence to embrace my creative side again and I am thrilled to be part of Incognito, because I know the true value of turning art into care.”

She said that for Hannah, the foundation didn’t just provide care: “They helped piece my family back together — and gave me the strength to hope again.”

To mark a milestone year, the show is celebrating a decade of hidden treasures in 2026, with 1,926 original artworks in a newly-enlarged 6x8-inch postcard size. Each artwork costs €75.

The much-loved annual online art sale will take place on Wednesday, May 20, and can be viewed on incognito.ie.