Danny O’Reilly revealed as Guest of Honour at Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services’ Annual Light Up A Life

Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services (OLH&CS) has revealed Danny O’Reilly of The Coronas as this year’s guest of honour for the annual Light Up A Life Remembrance Ceremony.

Traditionally seen as the start of the festive period for many, this year Danny O’Reilly will headline a special evening of music and remembrance in Harold’s Cross on Sunday, 3rd December, and Today FM’s Ian Dempsey will return as the MC again this year.

OLH&CS’s patient Ger Kelly from Kilkenny, special guest for this year’s event Danny O’Reilly from The Coronas and OLH+CS Clinical Nurse Manager II Kate Nolan. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

The performance, expected to attract more than 10,000 people, will culminate in the lighting of the Light Up A Life Christmas tree, a magical and emotional spectacle for all who attend.

Mary Flanagan, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services said: “Light Up A Life is a very special occasion for our community of patients, residents, families, staff, volunteers, neighbours and friends.

“This unique and live event of music, remembrance and lighting of our Christmas tree offers people an opportunity to commence the festive season, while also remembering their loved ones.

“Last year was the 30th year of Light Up A Life and we are extremely grateful for the support we receive through this special event.

“In March of this year, Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services reopened the refurbished Blackrock Hospice site.

“This €7 million refurbishment project was vital to ensure that we can continue to meet the need of the community now and in the future.

“The renovation would not have been possible without the generosity of the public and businesses who donated more than €5.97 million.

“Demand for our services continues to increase across our three sites in Harold’s Cross, Blackrock and Wicklow, and we rely on the generosity of the public through our ongoing fundraising activities,” she added.

The Light Up A Light remembrance ceremony is free to attend. Funds raised through people sponsoring lights in memory of a loved one and sales from the online Christmas shop and on the night, are crucially important to OLH&CS. During 2022, 4,867 admissions (5% increase on 2021) were made across OLH&CS’s three sites in Harold’s Cross, Blackrock, and Wicklow.

The Specialist Community Palliative Care Teams made more than 12,110 patient visits (18% increase on 2021), carrying out almost 5,925 reviews, either in patients’ place of residence or through ‘virtual visits’.

Ahead of the live performance, Danny O’Reilly (pictured above) said: “I’m delighted and honoured to have been asked to join the community in Harold’s Cross to turn on the Christmas lights for Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services on December 3rd.

“My family, like many others, have seen first-hand the important care and services Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services provides and are aware of the vital work they do in the community.

“You can help by sponsoring a light on the Christmas tree in memory of a loved one. I hope to see you on December 3rd”, he added.

Ger Kelly, patient and campaigner with Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services said: “Light Up A Life is one of the largest annual fundraisers for Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services.

“I avail of the services in Blackrock and Harold’s Cross, which I am very grateful for and therefore delighted to support this important campaign.

“Light Up A Life is a great way to give back and to also remember our loved ones at this time of year, which can also be tough for people.

“Light Up A Life allows us to gather together and think of our loved ones, all the while supporting the patients, staff and volunteers of Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services”.

The Light Up A Life Remembrance Ceremony takes place on Sunday, 3rd December from 3.45pm on the grounds of Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services, Harold’s Cross.

Although there is no parking available on-site, the location is well-served by public transport.

Light Up A Life sponsored lights in honour of loved ones are displayed online as well as festive decorations, cards and pins which are available online.

OLH&CS is also calling on companies and businesses to consider becoming a Leading Light for Hospice, by pledging to donate and support the Light Up a Life campaign.

Information can be found via the Light Up A Life website: https://lightupalife.ie/