Late Late Show viewers have raised an incredible €600,000 for Crumlin Children’s Hospital since the show aired on Friday night.
Munster rugby star Billy Holland and his wife Lanlih appeared on the show, where they opened up about their daughter Emmeline.
The pair spoke candidly about the incredible care their little girl received at CHI in Crumlin before her passing, and wanted to raise funds for the continued services in the children’s hospital.
Billy and Lanlih had initially hoped to raise €100,000, with funds being split between CHI at Crumlin, the children’s ward in Cork University Hospital, and the Ronald McDonald House. The sum of money has since way surpassed their expectations.
Speaking about the fundraiser, Ryan Tubridy, said, ”There was a sadness and there was a goodness and there was a kindness that happened to us on The Late Late Show on Friday night.
“It just felt like there was a spontaneous sense of something beautiful happening in terms of the viewers and guests alike, particularly when we got to Billy Holland and his wife Lanlih and they told us about their daughter Emmeline…
“There was just an extraordinary amount of goodwill. It’s touching half a million euro …there’s something about Irish people when asked and when they believe in a cause, they respond.
“I’m glad to say that Crumlin hospital itself also raised a lot of money on the night. We spoke to families and we spoke to staff and it was just an outpouring of gratitude and a sense of community on the Island and I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for being so generous.”
You can donate here, or text Crumlin to 50300.