Cancer survivor launches new tea brand for charity

A new Tullamore-based tea brand was launched this week with the lofty ambition of a providing a “perpetual funding stream” for Ireland's cancer charities, including the Midlands Hospice Building Fund.

The man behind Paddy's Tea, which was launched in the Bridge Shopping Centre on Monday, February 3, is Tullamore-based Galway native John McKeigue.
Speaking to the Offaly Independent this week, Mr McKeigue said that he came up with the idea for Paddy's Tea while being treated for prostrate cancer in St Luke's Hospital two years ago.

“While there I began thinking about an idea of how I could ever repay all these wonderful beings that treated and cared for both myself and so many other patients while there. This idea was to become the nucleus of a continuous source of funding that would run on long after I was gone from the sod. Hence the term perpetual funding was conceived.”

Rather than ask people to donate towards his cause, John decided that it would be better to develop a product that people want with all of the profits accrued going to cancer charities. Given the fact that Irish people drink an estimated 24 million cups of tea a day, he decided that launching a new brand of tea would be a good way of achieving his aim.

After extensive research he had decided on a blend of tea from India, which he says is a rival for any of Ireland's most popular tea brands. He also plans to introduce Paddy's Coffee, once Paddy's Tea is up and running later this year.

While many people are particular about what tea they drink, John says that Paddy's Tea fared well in every blind tasting event that he held.

When people buy a box they will also have the pleasure of knowing that there money is going to good cause, he says.

John also revealed that he hopes that Paddy's Tea will be able to make a significant annual contribution to Midlands Hospice Building Fund. He has offered to donate all of the profits of every packet of Paddy's Tea sold in Offaly, Laois, Westmeath and Longford to the building fund.

Once the story gets out about why Paddy's Tea was established, John is confident that it will be a success.

“I lost my father, brother-in-law and sister-in-law to cancer. We can all sadly tell our own cancer stories but this is my way of giving back to the cancer services and providing much needed funding.

“I am not, and the people who have come on board with me, are not in this financial gain. I am doing this because I have been given a second chance of light,” he ended this week.

For more information on Paddy's Tea go to paddystea.ie.