Over €400,000 raised for charity after Laois woman Emma Fogarty and Colin Farrell's Late Late appearance

Over €400,000 had been raised for Debra Ireland by the end of Friday night's Late Late Show which featured Laois woman Emma Fogarty and actor Colin Farrell. 

The pair joined host Patrick Kielty  to talk about the upcoming Dublin City Marathon which the Hollywood actor will run next week with Emma joining him for the final four kilometres by being pushed in a wheelchair.  Emma is  Ireland’s longest-surviving person battling the agonising skin condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB) also known as Butterfly Skin. 

“At 40, I've gone through hell. I've been through a lot,” Emma said on the show. “The pain is excruciating. The pain is constant, sitting here now I'm in agony.” 

During the interview Colin Farrell criticised the government for not financially supporting Debra Ireland. The Penguin star said the charity had asked the government for €695,000 to help support the 300 people living with EB in Ireland and did not receive it.

“I get the ridiculousness of Mr Hollywood, Money Bags Farrell coming out and asking for money, that’s not lost on me,” he said. 

“But the government has a responsibility to the people of Ireland to look after the people of Ireland to the best of their ability, to cut corners where the people are going to suffer the least and to put the money where people are going to be given the most support and the help that they need.”

When Emma was born doctors told her parents that she wouldn’t survive a week and that it would be better if she didn't. 

Despite the odds this year she celebrated turning 40 and she said there is  “a lot I’d like to say” to the doctors.

“Part of me would love to say ‘in your face’. I have lived a really difficult life where there is no break. The pain is constant, the bandages are constant. It’s like a revolving door in our house. Doctors aren’t always right, and I think I’ve proved them wrong now.”

Taking part in the marathon with her friend Colin will take its toll on Emma physically.

“I’m going to sleep through November, literally. That’s not a joke. After the run, after the pain, after the exhaustion, I will sleep,” she said.

Debra Ireland said: "We are blown away by all the support for Emma Fogarty, Colin Farrell and everyone impacted by epidermolysis bullosa (EB) after last night's Late Late. We can't thank the Irish public enough for your incredible generosity and we are delighted to say that, so far, you have raised €415,000 for EB. 

"Next Sunday, Colin will run the @irishlife.ie @dublinmarathon for Debra and EB. He will push Emma the last 4 kilometres, representing 4 decades she has lived with EB. If you would like to sponsor them, please visit debra.ie/runto40 Thank you so much for standing with everyone impacted by EB, butterfly skin."