Little Nicole steals the show as she presents daffodils to An Taoiseach!

The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, was joined by Irish Cancer Society’s CEO, Averil Power, and Tullamore cancer patient, 7-year old Nicole Keyes, to celebrate upcoming Daffodil Day, which takes place around the country this Friday, March 28.

The Irish Cancer Society, which is aiming to raise €6 million to support its vital free services and cancer research projects, is urging the public to stand with cancer patients and survivors and to go all in against cancer this Daffodil Day.

Little Nicole Keyes looked radiant as she enthusiastically presented the Taoiseach with a bunch of daffodils to mark the countdown to Daffodil Day 2025, watched by her proud parents, Shirley and Noel.

Demand for key cancer services and supports rose by up to 20% last year.

The Irish Cancer Society Transport service, which brings patients to and from cancer treatment across the country, saw a 20% increase in bookings in 2024. Its drivers covered 2.9 million kilometres in 2024, bringing over 2,500 cancer patients to and from their chemotherapy treatments. This sees demand for the service increasing by 126% over the last five years.

The charity also says that more and more people are seeking emotional support during cancer as their free nationwide counselling service saw an 8% increase in sessions to over 16,000 patients. The Society’s Freephone Support Line, which provides information and advice on cancer, also saw an 8% increase in contacts to 10,700 with Daffodil Centre conversations at 17,300. Over 6,000 nights of nursing care were given to over 1,700 patients.

This Daffodil Day the Irish Cancer Society urgently needs your support to provide free services for cancer patients. Without you these vital services simply wouldn’t exist.