Today is Daffodil Day, here’s an overview of what’s happening around the country

News Article | 11 Mar 2016

Today is the Irish Cancer Society’s 29th Daffodil Day, kindly supported by Dell.

Throughout the day more than 3,000 volunteers the length and breadth of the country will be selling Daffodils and organising events like coffee mornings and cake sales.

Here’s a snapshot of just some of the more colourful and unusual things happening for Daffodil Day 2016.

Dublin

  • [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_preview","fid":"5428","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"180","style":"width: 180px; height: 180px; float: right; margin: 2px;","width":"180"}}]]Garden of Hope, Iveagh Gardens: Thousands of daffodils with messages of hope and remembrance will form a garden from 8am in the Iveagh Gardens off Harcourt Street. The public are invited to come to along on Daffodil Day and plant their message, and enjoy the garden.
     
  • The original ‘Daff Man’: Irish Cancer Society volunteer James Gilleran is the original ‘Daff Man’ and he will be returning this year to spend the day in his special suit of daffodils using his powers of fundraising for good on O’Connell Street all day.
     
  • Bad Guys do Good: Storm Troopers from the 501st Legion will be leaving the dark side behind and selling daffodils on Grafton Street for Daffodil Day.
     
  • Daffodils on the airwaves with the 2FM Roadcaster: The 2FM Roadcaster will be taking up residence at Heuston Station on Friday morning, kicking off with Keith Walsh and Jennifer Maguire on Breakfast Republic from 6am to 10am with Rose of Tralee, Elysha Brennan, to feature during the show and later in the day with the Eoghan McDermott show from 4pm to 7pm, so tune in to find out more on Daffodil Day. Eoghan will also be taking to the streets to sell some daffodils for a video which will be posted online.
     
  • Flower Power: Independent News and Media are embracing flower power this Friday by incorporating our signature Daffodil in the logos of the Irish Independent and Independent.ie as part of their support for Daffodil Day 2016.
     
  • [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_preview","fid":"5429","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"180","style":"width: 180px; height: 180px; float: right; margin: 2px;","width":"180"}}]]Going Yellow: The Bank of Ireland on College Green in the heart of the city is lighting up yellow for Daffodil Day.
     
  • Floral Symphony: Members of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra will be wearing daffodil pins during their performance in the National Concert Hall on Friday evening.
     
  • Daffodil Day Ceili at the Aviva: Among a range of activities taking place at the Aviva Stadium on Friday Irish dancers from Scoil Rince Seoige will be putting on a special lunchtime performance to raise funds on the day.
     
  • Advertising on Wheels! Our beautiful Daffodil Day adverts will be rolling around the country on special ad-mobile cars and bikes. Keep an eye out for them in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.
     
  • Dell Goes Yellow: Dell’s three Irish campuses are going yellow this Friday. In Dell’s campus in Cherrywood, Co. Dublin, 98FM will be broadcasting live at lunchtime and there will be a wide range of fundraisers taking place at this and Dell’s other campuses in Cork and Limerick. Fundraisers include giant games, face painting and a photo booth. 

Limerick

  • In Newcastle West, Limerick, the Red Door Art Gallery is hosting a very special coffee morning between 9am and 4pm with tea/coffee and refreshments and fantastic art available for all to enjoy.
     
  • Bobby Byrnes Gastropub in Limerick are offering complimentary Bewleys tea & coffee, delicious sweet & savoury treats as part of their special Daffodil Day coffee morning from 8.30am-11.00am.
     
  • The Kemmy Business School in the University of Limerick is also hosting a special coffee morning, which will be attended by Dr Robert O’Connor, Head of Research at the Irish Cancer Society.
     

Cork

  • Cloyne woman, Mary Wallace, is celebrating a special day this Friday as it will be her 25th year supporting Daffodil Day and the work of the Irish Cancer Society. Affectionately known as the Daffodil Lady locally, Mary, along with family and friends, will transform her home into a sweet room, toy room, and tea/coffee room from 9am – 4pm this Friday. The special coffee morning is always a big draw with local children from nearby St Colman’s National School, who love to visit Mary’s home on Daffodil Day for a chance to win one of a number of donated prizes.
     
  • On Saturday, 12 March, a vintage fire brigade will be outside Brown Thomas in Cork City selling daffodils.

Other areas

  • Drogheda is going yellow this Friday for Daffodil Day. Last year 26 shops in the town signed up to put on special Daffodil Day displays and this year the number has grown to include more than 42 local shops and businesses.
     
  • In Mullingar local children are hoping to paint the town yellow to mark Daffodil Day when they take part in a special school art competition to mark the occasion. The local Daffodil Day committee has organised an art competition with Daffodil Day as the theme.
     
  • In Westport a Daffodil Day Caravan will be outside SuperValu on Shop Street from 8.30am selling fresh daffodils and merchandise all day!
     
  • Towns and villages are turning yellow all across the country on Friday from Dunfanaghy in Donegal, to Ballybay in Monaghan, to Middleton in County Cork including a special coffee morning being organised by Gabriella McGauran in Sligo in memory of her mum.
     
  • Daffodil Day Bumper Bouquets: Aldi is selling an exclusive bumper bunch of 100 Irish-grown daffodils across stores throughout the country with €1 from every purchase going directly to the Irish Cancer Society.

How to support Daffodil Day

The Irish Cancer Society and Dell, lead partner for Daffodil Day, are calling on the public to help support the campaign on Friday, 11th of March.

If you haven’t had the opportunity yet to support Daffodil Day it’s not too late and here’s how you can:

  • Buy a daffodil or Daffodil Day merchandise from a volunteer in your community.
  • Make a donation by phone, CallSave 1850 60 60 60.
  • Make a secure donation online.
  • Text DAFF to 50300 to donate €4* now!*
    [(The Irish Cancer Society will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278)]
  • Download the Daffodil Day app created by Dell employees and donate through it.
  • Go online and share your Daffodil Day photos with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and don’t forget to use our hashtag #DaffodilDay.