WATCH Limerick influencers ‘Come Dine With Us’ Christmas special in support of breast cancer awareness

Limerick influencers ‘Come Dine With Us’ in support of breast cancer awareness

A group of Limerick influencers have come together to produce a ‘Come Dine With Us’ Christmas special to be released across social media platforms on Christmas day in support of breast cancer awareness

A special Christmas edition of ‘Come Dine With Us’ has brought Limerick influencers together to cook a festive three-course meal, joined by a special guest in support of breast cancer awareness.

The Christmas special production, brought together well-known Irish TikTok creators, written by Aisling Unfiltered and produced by Limerick actor Kenneth Barry, will be released on Christmas Day across TikTok and YouTube.

The episode features influencers Aisling Duffy, Shane McCarthy, Josephine Duffy, Marius, Samantha and Lily, who team up in the kitchen cooking up a festive three-course meal while sharing conversation and creating connections. At the centre of the special production is the personal contribution of special guest, Christine, who will join the group to share her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35 and the impact it had on her life.

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The group hope that with Christine bravely sharing her story, they can raise awareness and highlight the importance of early detection and listening to your body, particularly among younger women.

Creator of the production Aisling Unfiltered said her journey into the world of TikTok began from “simply by being myself”. Aisling started her account sharing “sharing real, everyday life with no filters, no edits, and no pretending” with her family of eight. She said, “I just picked up my phone and started recording my days, talking openly about the highs, the lows, the chaos, and the moments in between.”

As a mother, Aisling says life doesn’t come polished and that the honesty is where ‘Aisling Unfiltered” was born. As well as her TikTok account, Aisling hosts the “You Matter” podcast with Katie Sheehan, which gives people a platform to share their stories, no matter what walk of life they are from.

Aisling said the Come Dine With Us project reflects everything her platform stands for, she told I Love Limerick, “While planning the Christmas special, I came across the story of a woman who was just 35 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She will be sharing her story as part of this special.

“At 35, breast cancer is not something most people would ever think could happen to them, which is exactly why this message matters. The aim was to highlight the importance of checking for lumps and getting checked early. If sharing this encourages even one person to listen to their body and seek help, then it has done its job.”

Christine, now six months breast cancer free, spoke openly during the filming about chemotherapy, surgery, treatment and the effect of cancer on her family, urging people of all ages to get checked if something feels wrong.

Lily, a member of the travelling community, described the experience as rewarding and meaningful, telling I Love Limerick, “It was an incredibly rewarding and meaningful experience, not only to raise awareness for such an important cause, but also to spend time with such genuine, compassionate people. Moments like these remind me why I share my story and why connection, kindness, and community matter so much.”

Producer Kenneth Barry said taking on his first producing role for a project supporting breast cancer awareness was a proud milestone. He said, “I am excited for everyone to see it and love it as much as I did. We had a fantastic crew, which significantly enhanced the overall experience. It was also in support of breast cancer awareness, which is something close to my heart, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help spread awareness.”

Sharing their story, Christine said, “At 35 years old, a mother of four children — my youngest just a year and a half — I never imagined breast cancer would enter my life. When I first noticed something wasn’t right, I brushed it off as pregnancy-related or something that would pass. Cancer simply wasn’t on my radar.

But it was cancer — and in an instant, my whole world changed. Not just mine, but my children’s and my partner Sam’s too. Life as we knew it stopped, and for the next two and a half years, everything revolved around survival. I went through chemotherapy, a full mastectomy of my left breast, radiotherapy, and preventative treatment because my cancer was hormone-based. That meant shutting down my hormones completely.”

Christine explained at 37 years old she was “thrown into menopause”. She said, “My body changed, my mind changed, and some days I didn’t recognise myself. It was an incredibly long and difficult road — filled with fear, uncertainty, exhaustion, and moments where I didn’t know what the outcome would be. But through it all, we kept going.”

Christine said for her and Sam coming together for Come Dine With Us, they “shared more than just a meal”. She said, “People from different walks of life sat around one table — from the travelling community, people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, and everyday people — all coming together in a safe, welcoming space. And in that space, I was able to speak openly about breast cancer, especially how it affects younger people. That conversation matters.”

“Breast cancer doesn’t care about your age. If you feel something isn’t right, please get it checked. Don’t be ashamed. Don’t be frightened. Ignoring it could lead to a much worse outcome. I am incredibly grateful to say that today, I am six months breast cancer-free. I am living my best life, and so are my children and my partner. But getting here took strength, patience, and support — and no one should have to walk that road alone. If you take anything from my story, let it be this, “No matter how young you are, listen to your body. Advocate for yourself. Get checked. It could save your life.”

Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick