Families with ill children supported in memory of late Limerick man

IT IS fitting that Shane Dowling is in the cheque presentation photo above as the 2018 All-Ireland win brought so much joy to massive Limerick hurling supporter Darren Noonan.

Irish Wire Products Ltd donated €7,000 to Cliona's Foundation in memory of Darren, of Keane Street, Killalee, Limerick city. He passed away in June, 2020, aged just 35.

Darren was born with spina bifida, experienced further health complications as he got older including requiring kidney dialysis and had the use of a wheelchair.

However, the son of Mick and Kathleen lived life to the full. Darren had a beautiful voice and could sing a ballad with the best of them. Mick said Darren loved the craic.

“When we would go up to Claughuan or St Patrick's they would bring him up and he would sing a couple of songs. He was a fine singer. He loved Lourdes as well. We were going to Lourdes for years,” said Mick.

But Darren’s main love was Limerick hurling and the great team of the mid-90s.

Mick said Darren never missed a training session or match, health permitting. All the players on that team roll off Mick's tongue like it was yesterday - Ciaran Carey, Dave Clarke, Joe Quaid, Stephen McDonogh, Ger Hegarty, Mike Houlihan, Gary Kirby to name but a few.

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“When Darren passed away they all turned up to the funeral and gave him a guard of honour. He went to every training session. One time before a Munster final they were after getting their gear for the match. Joe Quaid came over to Darren and he gave him a jersey.

“Ciaran Carey came to see him in hospital when he was sick. When we went in he was all excited, ‘Dad, Ciaran came to see me',” said Mick.

He wished to thank managing director of Irish Wire Products, Paddy Mulvihill, for the generous donation to Cliona’s in memory of Darren.

“We got to know Paddy through the hurling and football and he has a mobile home in Ballybunion. He just approached me and said he would like to do something for Darren. Fair play to him. Cliona's are a brilliant charity,” said Mick.

The Limerick-based charity provides 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.

The charity was not in existence when Darren was small but Mick said it would have made a big difference.

“We were up and down to Dublin every week or two and then as he got a bit stronger every two months,” said Mick.

The €7,000 from Irish Wire in Darren’s memory will now help many families just like the Noonans.