Tipperary man calls for community to go all in against cancer this Daffodil Day

Tipperary man Dan Harty, 39, from Thurles, is calling on his local community to go all in against cancer for the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day, which takes place on Friday, March 20. 

Dan, who is organising Daffodil Day in Thurles alongside Bernie Walsh, for the second year in a row, is delighted to be joined this year by Jim Sweeney and Niamh Harrington and is encouraging people across Tipperary to get involved and donate on the day.

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Commenting on why he got involved in bringing back Daffodil Day in Thurles, Dan, who lost a grandparent to cancer, said: “I remember Daffodil Day being active in Thurles for many years, thanks to Sister Mary Barry and many others but unfortunately it stopped after Covid. Two years ago, I saw a notice looking for people to bring it back and I decided to get involved, because it really struck a chord with me.

“Cancer is a very serious issue that affects most families, and I have a lot of family and friends who have been affected by cancer. I wanted to get Daffodil Day back up and running in Thurles, because I knew it was for a fantastic cause as it supports the important services the Irish Cancer Society provides to people affected by cancer.”

Encouraging people across Tipperary to get involved this Daffodil Day, Dan said: “Every euro raised on Daffodil Day is crucial and makes a real lasting difference, fuelling life-changing cancer research and vital support services. I would encourage everyone to please get out there on Daffodil Day, March 20th, and show your support for those affected by cancer in your local community.”

The Irish Cancer Society is there to ensure that every person affected by cancer has a place to turn to, the support they need and the hope that there will come a day when no one in Ireland dies from cancer.   

Thanks to the amazing generosity of the public the Irish Cancer Society invests in ground-breaking cancer research and delivers crucial free support services for people affected by cancer, throughout Tipperary. 

In 2025, your generous support provided:  

-Over 900 free lifts to bring Tipperary-based cancer patients to their treatment;
-Over 600 free counselling sessions for people living in Tipperary;
-Over 300 nights of free Night Nursing care to allow cancer patients in Tipperary to die at home surrounded by loved ones;
-Our Cancer Nurses had 390 conversations with people from Tipperary on our Support Line and in our Daffodil Centres.

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Irish Cancer Society CEO Nikki Gallagher said: “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. The funds raised don’t just support vital, life-changing cancer research — they provide immediate, practical help for people facing cancer right now. From free counselling and transport to treatment, to Night Nursing care that allows someone to spend precious time at home, your support makes an extraordinary difference.

“Communities across Tipperary and throughout Ireland will once again come together to paint the country yellow — standing shoulder to shoulder with patients and their families. But we need this to be our biggest Daffodil Day yet. When you donate or get involved, you’re not just giving money — you’re giving comfort, hope and time. Together, we can ensure that no one in Ireland faces cancer alone.”

Where your donations go:

-€30 can help provide transport for a patient to and from their chemotherapy treatment using the Irish Cancer Society’s Transport Service;
-€50 can help provide vital clinical equipment for an Irish Cancer Society Night Nurse;
-€60 will cover the cost of a counselling session to help a person cope with a cancer diagnosis in their life;
-€65 will help pay for the cost of one hour of Night Nursing, providing end of life care to a patient in their own home;
-€505 will help cover the cost of one night of Night Nursing, providing end-of-lifecare to a patient in their own home.

For more information about Daffodil Day visit www.cancer.ie/daffodilday.