‘Mum left us letters... ones for our wedding days or for a reason to smile’

Before Muireann O’Mahony passed away, after losing her battle with cancer, she wrote a bundle of letters to her two daughters.

“There are ones to be opened on our wedding days, when we have our first child, for our first heartbreak which I opened last summer, ones for when we need a reason to smile – there are just so many,” said her daughter Ellen.

Now aged 19, Ellen was in the middle of her junior cert when her precious mum died in June, 2022. Muireann was in her early 50s.

“It was her second time getting breast cancer. She was treated successfully a few years earlier but was diagnosed again in 2021 and it was all pretty quick after that,” said Ellen.

During Muireann’s final weeks, the Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nursing service was there to support her and her family as it was her wish to remain in her home, with Ellen, her older sister Grace, and their dad.

“We turned a spare room into a bedroom for her final few weeks and hung up lots of photos of us, her siblings, my dad and her friends so she was surrounded by great memories,” remembers Ellen.

“Looking back, it’s all a bit of a blur. I was only 15 at the time so I wasn’t involved in the decision-making but I know we couldn’t have done any of that without the help of the Irish Cancer Society’s nurses who were here pretty much all the time and gave us and mum so much reassurance.”

That’s why Ellen is urging everyone to give what they can to this year’s Daffodil Day which takes place this Friday. She highlighted the fact that all money raised will help fund cancer research, patient support, the all-important night nurses, and deliver crucial free support services for people affected by cancer, throughout Cork.

In 2026 alone, an estimated 44,000 people will receive a cancer diagnosis in Ireland.

“The Irish Cancer Society typically receives only 5% of its income from the Government, so they rely on the public’s generosity,” said Ellen.

In 2025, public support provided over 3,200 free lifts to bring Cork-based cancer patients to their treatment; over 2,000 free counselling sessions for people living in Cork; over 430 nights of free night nursing care to allow cancer patients in Cork to die at home surrounded by loved ones, and cancer nurses had over 2,800 conversations with people from Cork on their support line and in Daffodil Centres.

Irish Cancer Society Acting CEO Edel Shovlin said that Daffodil Day is all about turning solidarity into action.

“Cancer doesn’t wait — and neither can we. This year, thousands of people in Ireland will hear the words, ‘You have cancer’. Behind every diagnosis is a person, a family, a future suddenly filled with uncertainty. But this Daffodil Day, there is also determination, compassion, and groundbreaking research driving real progress. Daffodil Day 2026 is about turning solidarity into action.”

Ellen has already raised an incredible €16,000 for the charity by completing a ‘30 Challenges in 30 Days’ fundraiser last August, to help fund cancer research, patient support, and night nurses - because she had seen first hand how important these services are.

Her initial target was €5,000 and she had never anticipated the public response to her campaign, which included a skydive and kayaking down the River Lee. She also left flowers and notes on cars parked at Marymount Hospice in another generous gesture.

“Mom was the strongest, kindest person I’ve ever known. She did her best to help everyone around her despite the battle she was fighting,” she said. “She really was the type of person who never thought of herself and always put everyone first,” said Ellen.

Muireann, who worked in Pepsi, wanted her family to remember her the way she was before her illness.

“She was naturally very tired towards the end but she was really prepared and by leaving us these notes, we can remember her how she was for us. It’s such a gift.”

Ellen naturally still keenly feels the loss of her mother.

“You might think that it’s worse on big occasions like birthdays and Christmas and of course that’s when she is missed, but it can hit me unexpectedly at other times, especially if I’m looking for advice on something because she was 100% my person to go to for things like that,” she said.

“But by supporting the ICS and fundraisers like Daffodil Day it really helps – it’s for my mom and for everyone who’s fighting, survived, or lost someone to cancer.

“So, in her honour, I do my best to help in any way I can, and will continue to do so.”

• To find out how you can support Daffodil Day see www.cancer.ie.