Today is Daffodil Day, here’s an overview of what’s happening around the country

Today is the Irish Cancer Society 28th Daffodil Day, kindly supported by Dell. Over 3,000 volunteers will be all around the country selling Daffodils and organising events like coffee mornings and cakes sales, here’s an overview of some of the more unusual things happening today.

Dublin:

• Dina Dina Dina Dina Daff Man:  The original ‘Daff Man’ Irish Cancer Society volunteer James Gilleran will be spending the day in his suit of Daffodils using his powers of fundraising for good on O’Connell Street all day
   
• Garden of Hope, Iveagh Gardens: Thousands of daffodils with messages of hope and remembrance will form a garden tomorrow from 8am in the Iveagh Gardens off Harcourt Street. The public are invited to come to along on Daffodil Day and plant their message, and enjoy the garden. Taoiseach Enda Kenny has led the way and planted a daffodil already. Some other mini Garden of Hopes will spring up tomorrow also, one in the Irish Cancer Society’s head office and one in the grounds of the Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa in Enniskerry.
   
• Advertising on Wheels! Our beautiful Daffodil Day adverts will be rolling around the country on special ad-mobile cars and bikes. Keep an eye out for them in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford
   
• Cube of Life, Chain of Hope: On Daffodil Day at 11.15am the 450 pupils of St. Finian’s National School, Newcastle, Co. Dublin will create a giant Cube of Life, painted in different colours to represent the different cancers, and a human daffodil chain around it with the children wearing daffodil heads. They plan to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society. The Cube representing how cancer can impact on us and the Chain reflecting the hope that research is giving people. This is the second year sixth class student Fiachra Mooney, whose mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, has organised a unique fundraiser for the Society. The children have been busy building and painting the cube and daffodil heads in preparation for Friday.
   
• Bad Guys do Good: Storm Troopers from the 501st Legion will be leaving the dark side behind and selling Daffodils on Grafton Street for Daffodil Day.
   
• Daffodils on the airwaves with the 2FM Roadcaster: The 2FM Roadcaster will be taking up residence for the first time on Henry Street, outside the Ilac Centre, kicking off with the Ryan Tubridy show in the morning and then later followed by Rick O’Shea and Cormac Battle. Join 2FM and come out and support Daffodil Day.
   
• Dublin 2 restaurant Las Tapas de Lola co-owner Vanessa has organised a special "the more you tip, the more we donate" night for Daffodil Day tomorrow. Having just completed treatment for breast cancer, she thought it would be fun and great to give something back to our staff as well as a great cause.
   
• Diva Voces will be singing from outside the GPO at 6pm. Diva Voces is an all-female voice choir of 40 women. This year Divas will be performing a mixed repertoire for Daffodil Day outdoors on O’Connell Street. A wide ranging array of music, appealing to all musical tastes!
   
• Yellow madness 12:00pm – 2:00pm on Friday, March 27th – staff at Dell Ireland’s Cherrywood campus turn yellow for Daffodil Day.

Limerick:

• 4 Story Abseil Extravaganza From 12:30pm Dell Ireland’s Limerick campus is organising a fundraising abseil at the City Centre Car Park, Thomas Street, Limerick. 100-150 people are set to scale the building for Daffodil Day.

Galway:

• Galway based business owner Pat Hegarty of Cosyhome Heating who is a cancer survivor is supporting Daffodil Day in a novel way this year. He is making a donation to the Irish Cancer Society for every order of home heating oil he receives, all this week. Pat is now thankfully fully recovered from cancer but appreciates the good work being done by the Irish Cancer Society for individuals and their families affected by the illness.

Cork:

• Cllr. Mary Shields, Lord Mayor of Cork will visit the Daffodil Day activity at Cork’s famous English Market at 9.30am
   
• Fire brigade sell daffodils outside Brown Thomas in Cork City

Supporters of the campaign:
 

• ‘Daffodil of Tralee’
  The Irish Cancer Society for one day only, are crowning Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh, the Daffodil of Tralee. "Being involved in Daffodil Day has been a long standing tradition in my house. My mother, and her friends, each year stand in our community encouraging support for this great charity, and for many years I stood with her. A day like Daffodil Day encourages us all to stop and think of the significance our support gives to the many who will seek it. Many homes' have and will sadly be affected by cancer. And it is us who have control over helping to reduce it. If you see a member of our community standing outside, stop, share a moment, buy a Daffodil and contribute. The significance you create can impact many".
   
• RTE’s Weather Forecaster Nuala Carey
  Nuala has forecast a ‘shower of Daffodils’ and a ‘blizzard of excitement’ ahead of Ireland’s oldest flagship fundraising day which raises funds for the Irish Cancer Society’s free services for cancer patients and their families. 
  “By supporting Daffodil Day on Friday, 27th of March, we can help ‘weather’ cancer together and ensure there are more sunny days ahead”.
   
• Daffodil Farmer for Daffodil Day, Noel Ruigrok of Rush Bulb Farm
  “At the moment, we are on track for a great Daffodil Day. The Daffodils are blooming and in good shape. There hasn’t been too much wind or rain which can sometimes affect the crop so we are happy with how it is looking.  They are hardy flowers in general but this year’s weather has been fairly kind to them so they are looking better than ever! Here’s to the best Daffodil Day yet.”
   
• Cook book Author and Restaurateur, Domini Kemp
  “I was delighted to give a healthy brownie recipe for all those doing bake sales and coffee mornings for the Society this Friday. With such a little input on the volunteer’s side, we can all make a big difference. So whether you are pouring the cups of tea or baking the treats, you are playing a big role in supporting those living with cancer in Ireland today.  I really hope everyone will get behind Daffodil Day and show their support for friends, the community & the Irish Cancer Society this Friday.”
   
• RTE Broadcaster, Daithi O’Se
  “I was delighted to launch the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day this year. It is a wonderful campaign and I will be buying my pin on Friday and wearing it with pride. We all know someone affected by cancer and the Society provide so many free, nationwide services for families when they need it most. If you can’t get out and about to buy your Daffodils on Daffodil Day then simply text ‘Daff’ to 50300 to donate €4. Here’s to the best Daffodil Day yet.”

   

How to support Daffodil Day:

The Irish Cancer Society and Dell, lead partner for Daffodil Day, call on the public to help support the campaign on Friday, 28th of March. If you haven’t gotten to support yet – here’s how:

• Buy a daffodil or Daffodil Day merchandise on Daffodil Day from a street seller
• Make a donation by phone, CallSave 1850 60 60 60
• Make a secure donation online, go to www.cancer.ie 
• Text Daff to 50300 to donate €4 now! (100% of your €4 goes to the Irish Cancer Society across most networks. Some providers apply Vat where a minimum of €3.26 cent will go to the Society. Service provided by LikeCharity (01-4433890).)
• Download the newly designed Daffodil Day app by Dell employees and donate through it
• Or you could even join the ‘selfie’ craze, and take a ‘Style Your Daff’: a picture of you wearing your daffodil pin in a unique way, and share it online texting Daff to 50300 to donate €4