Irish everyday heroes left stunned as Dermot Bannon lands on doorsteps with surprise gifts

Three unsuspecting Irish everyday heroes got the shock of their lives recently when they opened their front doors to find Dermot Bannon standing there with a smile - and a very special surprise.

The unexpected visits were part of a nationwide ‘Random Acts of Warmth’ campaign by WillowWarm, which invited the public to nominate people who have gone above and beyond for others in their communities.

More than 1,300 heartfelt nominations were submitted, making the final selection no easy task.

Each of the three winners received a carefully curated hamper worth over €300, hand-delivered by Dermot himself - but it was the recognition and gratitude that truly stopped them in their tracks.

READ MORE | 'That's me done!'- Familiar voice from RTE hangs up the mic after nearly 3 decades

Among those honoured was Wicklow Animal Welfare stalwart Fiona Gammell, who has devoted more than 50 years of her life to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals across the county and beyond. Fiona admitted she was overwhelmed when Dermot arrived at her door.

“I’m genuinely overwhelmed,” she said. “What we do here, we do because it needs to be done. But for people to recognise it is really heartwarming. And to see you, Dermot, as well, I mean that’s incredible!”

She also spoke about the realities of animal welfare, describing it as “a twenty-four hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year commitment”, adding: “Not even Christmas Day!”

Another surprise visit went to Dublin Airport firefighter Stephen Gallagher, who was nominated after running the Dublin City Marathon in full firefighting gear, carrying equipment weighing “up to 27–30 kilos”. His extraordinary effort raised vital funds for charities including Little Blue Heroes, Critical and Good Shepherd Cork.

Stephen’s nomination also highlighted his ongoing dedication to his community, through his work as a firefighter, running club leader, GAA volunteer and scout leader.

READ MORE | All the best movies to watch on RTE over Christmas including recent blockbusters

The third winner was Meath-based special needs education teacher Carol Dillon, who was praised for her compassion and support for children with additional needs and their families. One parent said Carol was “one in a million” and credited her with laying the foundation for their child’s education journey.

“She built the foundation, but she’d never admit it,” the nomination read.

In addition to the three main winners, smaller surprise packages were also sent to a number of deserving nominees across the country, including a lollipop lady, a clown doctor at Crumlin and a selfless neighbour whose kindness had not gone unnoticed.