Stars shine at Cliona’s Foundation’s second annual Christmas Gala

Cliona’s Foundation 2024 Gala Christmas Ball held in the Marker Hotel. Brendan Ring, Terry Ring, Sonya Lennon, Muireann O’Connell and Alan Shortt. Photo: Aidan Oliver

Stars shine at Cliona’s Foundation 2024 annual Christmas Gala on Thursday, November 28th hosted by TV presenter Muireann O’Connell

TV Presenter Muireann O’Connell hosted the Cliona’s Foundation 2024 Christmas Gala Ball last night at The Marker hotel in Dublin.

The gala was generously sponsored by Metis Ireland which means that all profits went towards helping the families that Cliona’s support. Over €50,000 was raised on the night providing 20 family grants of €2500 each to struggling families before Christmas.    

Cliona’s is a national charity providing financial assistance directly to parents of children with life-limiting or chronic complex care needs across Ireland to help with the non-medical expenses related to caring for their child. Since 2008 the foundation has provided financial assistance to over 1300 families.

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The foundation was set up by Brendan and Terry Ring, following the death of their daughter Cliona, from an inoperable brain tumour in 2006 aged 15. Over the years, as Cliona underwent numerous different hospital treatments, Brendan and Terry were struck by the number of families, facing enormous financial hardship, on the brink of financial free-fall, blindsided by non-medical expenses piling up. They saw at first-hand the enormous toll it took on these families, already struggling to cope with the nightmare of having a seriously ill child.

Many well know faces joined Muireann last night including RTE Broadcaster Eileen Dunne, actor Patrick Bergin, entrepreneur and designer Sonya Lennon, artist Audrey Hamilton, TV and Today FM Presenter Louise Cantillon with her All Ireland Limerick Captain Declan Hannon. In attendance and offering her support to the event was Rose of Tralee, New Zealand Rose, Keeley  who is an ambassador for Cliona’s Foundation.

The auctioneer on the night was comedian Alan Shortt who did a phenomenal job of raising much needed funds. There were some incredible auction items donated including a round of Golf and a day out with renowned actor James Nesbitt at the Royal in Portrush.  Guests were also treated to an after-dinner show by Frankly My Dear with singer Helen O Dwyer and her dancers.

Speaking of her reason for getting involved with Cliona’s again Muireann said ““I was honoured to be asked to host this event  for Cliona’s Foundation. The foundation is a wonderful charity who provide financial support for families who are caring for a child with a life-limiting illness. I am delighted that together we can support a worthy and meaningful cause and raise much needed awareness this Christmas.”

Speaking about the importance of fundraising events for the organisation, was Cliona’s Co-Founder and CEO Brendan Ring. “So many of these families experienced, and continue to experience, the significant non-medical costs of caring for a child with a life-limiting condition. We are incredibly grateful to Muireann for her support this year and her help in ensuring the gala’s success. We are also very grateful to the generous management of Metis Ireland who have sponsored the gala. We need support more than ever, this year again, we have seen a record number of families who need our help”

A recent survey conducted by Cliona’s shows how families with sick children are often disproportionately affected by situations out of their control, such as rapidly increasing living costs. These are parents who are in a living nightmare and the last thing they should have to worry about are bills. Cliona’s survey found that in 70% of families, at least one parent must give up their jobs to care for their sick child leaving them struggling to cope. Studies have highlighted that a family will need between €10,000 and €15,000 a year to cover various non-medical costs while their child is ill.

During the ball Cliona’s took the opportunity to launch their Christmas appeal for 2024, which asks people to Give a Gift That Matters to #makeitmagic for families who are struggling financially while caring for a seriously sick child. Cliona’s are hoping that people will donate what they can or enter their Christmas raffle to win a €995 voucher for the exquisite Castlemartyr Resort.  Cliona’s have outstanding family applications and are keen to ensure that no family who applies for help this will have to wait for their financial assistance, especially at Christmas, a time for making precious memories with their sick child.

Commenting on the event, Carl Widger, MD of Metis Ireland said: “Metis are proud to support such a worthy cause and delighted that the Ball raised much needed funds for Cliona’s Foundation to help families throughout the country. It is important that as many corporate organisations like Metis Ireland get behind National charities such as Cliona’s making a difference in the heart of every community in Ireland because it really can make a huge impact”

Cliona’s Foundation expects a record number of families will apply for financial assistance again this year and will need to raise a minimum of €500,000 to meet these applications. To learn more and to help please visit www.clionas.ie or tune in to the two-part documentary “Ireland’s Forgotten Families” which is readily available on their website. To support Cliona’s Christmas appeal this year visit the group’s website.