THE MEN and young women from east Limerick, known as the mighty eight, who are behind the longest coffee ‘morning’ in the world never do things by halves. For the last 10 years Mike O’Donoghue has opened his Pallasgreen home to one and all from 7am to the early hours for the Irish Cancer Society. Well, apart from the Covid years and even then they held 24-hour sleep-out and fasts to continue the fundraising. Mike and his right hand women Saoirse Corbett, Tara Campbell, Sarah Dillon, Ellie and Sarah Phelan, Aine Looby, Lili McMahon and right hand man Mike O’Riordan have become known as the mighty eight. They held a special cheque presentation to mark their 10th anniversary and just like their coffee morning - it wasn’t a normal one. They handed over a cheque for €16,441.11 to Mary Murray, community fundraising officer with the Irish Cancer Society. Over the 10 years almost 100,000 has gone to the fight against cancer which Mike has overcome. He and the team organised a special ceremony for his invited guests. It commenced with attendees being asked to bring lanterns to a tree planted last year for all those affected by cancer. One was in memory of Saoirse Ruane, who captured the nation’s hearts on The Late Late Show. The 12-year-old Galway girl passed away from cancer earlier this year. The coffee morning in March was dedicated to Saoirse. The other lanterns brought by people to the tree were for all those affected by cancer, for doctors, nurses and helpers, for all their supporters, for all the names written on their remembrance board, for all who have donated, and members of the media. Each person was then given a tea candle and they could think about their own loved ones affected by the disease. It concluded with a special poem recited by Mike which heaped praise on Saoirse. the two Sarahs, Ellie, Aine, Lili, his namesake and Tara, who sadly couldn’t attend due to work commitments. Mike presented a medal to each of the mighty eight. READ MORE: Family raises funds for charity in memory
PICTURES: €100k raised in 10 years from longest coffee 'morning' in the world
