Latest news with #Alannah
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Wicklow friends start fundraiser to help mum diagnosed with aggressive cancer
Alannah Fitzmaurice, known as AJ to her friends, was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma aged just 17. It is a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma and aggressive cancer, which Alannah had in her left thigh. She underwent successful surgery and radiation treatment, thanks to the early detection of her condition. In 2012, Alannah required further surgery to fuse the toes in her left foot, due to complications from drop foot, which prevented her from walking properly. This interrupted her nursing training and left her facing months of recovery. That was followed up in 2017 with an operation to have her ankle fused due to radiation damage from the treatment years earlier. Needing a fresh start, she and her husband Emmet moved to Australia, but in September last year she suffered another setback, again linked to past radiation. After surgery and ten months of recovery, she was finally back on her feet, only to be told that the surgery had failed. She now faces a major operation as she need a full hip and proximal femur replacement. Keen to support Alannah through this setback, her friends Aoife and Laura set up an online fundraiser through Explaining why, they said: 'This marks the third time in nine years that Alannah has had to stop working, reshaping her life entirely due to health setbacks. With no family support in Australia and another long recovery ahead, Alannah, Emmet, and their toddler Freddie have made the difficult decision to return home to Ireland. Emmet will become a full-time carer for Freddie and neither will be able to work for the foreseeable future.' The fundraising target of €20,000 is aimed at helping ease the financial burden of travel and relocation costs, medical and rehab expenses, loss of income and to support Freddie during the difficult transition. Aoife and Laura added: 'Alannah has always been the first to help others - as a nurse, a friend, and through her generous heart. Now, it's our turn to be there for her. Every donation, big or small, will make a meaningful difference for AJ, Emmet, and Freddie.'
Irish Independent
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wexford poets, writers and musicians invite audience to ‘enjoy the special power of the spoken word' for charity
Sometimes, this beauty can be something we can lose sight of. Sometimes, our vision is impaired. It's perhaps fitting then that the collective are taking to the stage on July 4 with a special fundraiser in aid of local mental health charity It's Good 2 Talk. Directed by Paul Walsh, The Heart Speaks promises a night of music and poetry for a great cause with performers including Alannah, Margaret Galvin, John Cooney, Ronán P. Berry, Conor Lyons, A.M. Cousins and Paul Hennessy. "The magic of poetry is that it touches all our lives,' Álanna says. 'It can inspire, challenge, even heal and sometimes change the way we see the world. 'Good poems shine a light on what is so often passed over in our daily lives- the ordinary miracles, the unexpected learnings, those rare moments of emotional clarity we know we will always remember. They ambush us with words of awe, dread, wonder, sorrow and joy and invite us to step out of our comfort zones and into a world of deeper insight and new possibilities.' The Purple and Gold Collective are inviting people to take that step outside of their comfort zones on July 4, with all funds raised going directly to support It's Good 2 Talk with their work providing counselling and support to those in need. The event takes place with the support of Wexford County Council's Community Dates Open Call and tickets are priced at €15 from
Irish Daily Mirror
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mayo GAA star Matthew Ruane announces engagement to girlfriend Moya Mannion
Matthew Ruane, Mayo footballer, has put a ring on it with his girlfriend Moya Mannion. The GAA ace went down on one knee and proposed while the two were soaking up the sun on holiday. Both Matthew and Moya took to Instagram to give their followers a glimpse of the joyous occasion, posting pictures aboard a boat at sunset with Moya flaunting her stunning diamond sparkler. Their Instagram post was simply captioned with the date of their engagement: "29.06.25". A wave of congratulations quickly swept over their social media as friends and fans expressed their delight, reports RSVP Live. One user commented, "Wow wow congrats guys! ! So happy for you both," beneath the post. Another chimed in saying, "Huge congrats to ye both," and others joined the chorus of celebration with comments like, "Congratulations guys! ! So exciting!". This marks another romantic milestone for Mayo GAA, following closely behind the engagement announcement from the county's football captain Paddy Durcan to Alannah, his future wife. The couple, just settled into their new home, got engaged in an atmosphere filled with balloons and candles, evident in the Instagram photos showcasing them outside their lovely abode and the cosy kitchen where Paddy got down on one knee. Alannah shared her excitement online stating: "What a way to top off our first night in our new home. Here's to forever with my best friend." Joining in on the outpouring of well-wishes, teammate Aidan O'Shea exclaimed, "Massive congrats guys! Enjoy the celebrations!". Meanwhile, Lee Keegan showed his admiration with a succinct, "Class news!". Rob Hennelly and Diarmuid O'Connor also extended their warm wishes, with Galway players Shane Walsh and Damien Comer joining in to congratulate the happy couple. This comes as a welcome piece of good news following another challenging year for Mayo football. After suffering a defeat at home to Cavan, it seemed like the team were on track to qualify from their All-Ireland group after drawing level at 70 minutes against Donegal. However, they were dealt a blow when they conceded a winning point with the final kick of the game, resulting in their exit from the Championship.
Scottish Sun
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Huge chunk of metal fired through my windscreen as I drove at 70mph on the motorway… it missed my head by INCHES
FINAL DESTINATION Huge chunk of metal fired through my windscreen as I drove at 70mph on the motorway… it missed my head by INCHES Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A STUDENT narrowly avoided being impaled after a huge strip of metal fell off a car and lodged in her windscreen. Alannah was driving on the M3 from Bournemouth to her parents' home in Addlestone, Surrey, on Tuesday, June 24. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 The metal chunk splintered when it hit the windscreen, possibly saving Alannah's life Credit: Supplied 8 Alannah holds the metal shard that almost killed her when it hit her Fiat 500 Credit: Supplied 8 The 22-year-old student burst into tears - but was able to retain control of the vehicle Credit: Supplied The terrifying incident occurred at 2.25pm, around a mile before junction four, which Alannah compared to film series Final Destination. The 22 year-old, a graphic design student at Arts University Bournemouth, had no time to react as the huge metallic pole smashed into her windscreen - leaving her inches from death. She told The Sun: "It looks like a step from the side of a car. It hit me when I was going about 70 miles per hour. "I tried to swerve a bit but I was in the fast lane and there were cars to my side, so I couldn't move lanes. "When I saw the item blow off the car, I put my hand on the horn and I didn't let go, because my first instinct was to make everyone aware something's happened. "Then it hit. In that initial shock, I burst out crying because it was the biggest bang, everything sounded like it smashed. "I thought the whole thing came through the windscreen, it was really confusing, I was just in shock that there was this massive thing in my car." Alannah initially pulled over to the hard shoulder to ring her dad, but was terrified that her tiny Fiat 500 would be flattened by a passing lorry. She said: "I called my dad, and he knew that I was terrified of being on the side of the motorway. When a lorry goes past, it really shakes, it was petrifying." After less than a minute she pulled back on to the motorway with the intention of reaching the next service station. Moment driver leaves woman for dead in crushed car to pick up his £20 notes Alannah's plan was to stay behind a lorry to avoid any stones flying up and shattering what remained of her windscreen. However, she was flagged by a fellow driver, who forced her to pull over and then called the emergency services. Alannah said: "He came straight up and helped me get out of the car and over the barrier to make sure I was okay. "It's so annoying that I don't remember his name, but I'm so grateful for him because he helped calm me down, he helped get everything sorted. He was the one who called everyone to help me. "He stayed with me until the emergency services arrived before leaving." Fire services and police attended the scene while Alannah spoke to an ambulance team over the phone, but miraculously she sustained no physical injuries. Firemen told Alannah that a 'guardian angel' must have been watching over her because the metal object split when it hit the windscreen, stopping it from passing all the way through and potentially killing her. Alannah said: "The firemen actually did say the windshield actually helped the metal split. 8 An interior shot of the car shows just how close the metal shard came to Alannah Credit: Supplied 8 Alannah said fireighters told her she must have a 'guardian angel' Credit: Supplied 8 Police put duct tape over the whole so Alannah could drive on to the next services Credit: Supplied 8 Alannah holds the gigantic metal strip, which she said may be a step from a car Credit: Supplied 8 Alannah's friends joked that her ordeal was like the log scene from Final Destination 2 "They said if it didn't split, it would have come all the way through and hit me. "It could have ended up being really, really serious, I'm incredibly lucky that I kept control of the car after it hit and carried on driving until I could pull over. "The firemen, my friends and family all said that it was a guardian angel watching over me, which was lovely to hear." And shockingly, despite the huge gaping hole in the windscreen, Alannah's car - her first ever vehicle, that she acquired in January 2020 - sustained no damage to the bodywork whatsoever. She said: "The policeman laughed, actually, when I had finally calmed down, because he said, 'I can't believe there is not one single scratch on your car'." Police removed the metal chunk and put duct tape over the hole, then closed off part of a lane of the motorway in order to escort Alannah to the next services. They conducted a short investigation at the scene but determined that the incident was entirely accidental, Alannah said. The emergency services also commended the young student's driving and said without keeping a cool head and remaining in control of her car, things could have been much worse. Alannah's friends joked that her ordeal was like the famous scene from the action film Final Destination 2 in which logs fall off the back of a truck. She said: "A lot of people keep saying it reminds them of that scene. That's been kind of the laughing joke today about it." She added: "I just feel very lucky with how it turned out. I feel very unlucky it happened, but very lucky I survived. "Luckily, it's only the windshield which is damaged, but it could have gone so seriously wrong. "All my friends that I've told, they were like, you honestly could have died, you could have been seriously injured. "I've walked out of it intact though, I haven't even got a scratch on me. "My parents were very grateful that I was okay. My mum said it was my granddad who was watching over me, and looking after me." Alannah is soon heading back to university but shared her advice for other drivers in similar situations. She said: "I know it sounds stupid, but try and keep control of the car, and just try not to suddenly slam your brakes on. "Just try and stay in contact and get yourself somewhere safe."
The Irish Sun
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Huge chunk of metal fired through my windscreen as I drove at 70mph on the motorway… it missed my head by INCHES
A STUDENT narrowly avoided being impaled after a huge strip of metal fell off a car and lodged in her windscreen. Alannah was driving on the M3 from Bournemouth to her parents' home in Addlestone, Surrey, on Tuesday, June 24. Advertisement 8 The metal chunk splintered when it hit the windscreen, possibly saving Alannah's life Credit: Supplied 8 Alannah holds the metal shard that almost killed her when it hit her Fiat 500 Credit: Supplied 8 The 22-year-old student burst into tears - but was able to retain control of the vehicle Credit: Supplied The terrifying incident occurred at 2.25pm, around a mile before junction four, which Alannah compared to film series Final Destination. The 22 year-old, a graphic design student at Arts University Bournemouth, had no time to react as the huge metallic pole smashed into her windscreen - leaving her inches from death. She told The Sun: "It looks like a step from the side of a car. It hit me when I was going about 70 miles per hour. "I tried to swerve a bit but I was in the fast lane and there were cars to my side, so I couldn't move lanes. Advertisement Read more on Motors "When I saw the item blow off the car, I put my hand on the horn and I didn't let go, because my first instinct was to make everyone aware something's happened. "Then it hit. In that initial shock, I burst out crying because it was the biggest bang, everything sounded like it smashed. "I thought the whole thing came through the windscreen, it was really confusing, I was just in shock that there was this massive thing in my car." Alannah initially pulled over to the hard shoulder to ring her dad, but was terrified that her tiny Advertisement Most read in Motors She said: "I called my dad, and he knew that I was terrified of being on the side of After less than a minute she pulled back on to the motorway with the intention of reaching the next service station. Moment driver leaves woman for dead in crushed car to pick up his £20 notes Alannah's plan was to stay behind a lorry to avoid any stones flying up and shattering what remained of her windscreen. However, she was flagged by a fellow driver, who forced her to pull over and then called the emergency services. Advertisement Alannah said: "He came straight up and helped me get out of the car and over the barrier to make sure I was okay. "It's so annoying that I don't remember his name, but I'm so grateful for him because he helped calm me down, he helped get everything sorted. He was the one who called everyone to help me. "He stayed with me until the emergency services arrived before leaving." Advertisement Firemen told Alannah that a 'guardian angel' must have been watching over her because the metal object split when it hit the windscreen, stopping it from passing all the way through and potentially killing her. Alannah said: "The firemen actually did say the windshield actually helped the metal split. 8 An interior shot of the car shows just how close the metal shard came to Alannah Credit: Supplied 8 Alannah said fireighters told her she must have a 'guardian angel' Credit: Supplied Advertisement 8 Police put duct tape over the whole so Alannah could drive on to the next services Credit: Supplied 8 Alannah holds the gigantic metal strip, which she said may be a step from a car Credit: Supplied 8 Alannah's friends joked that her ordeal was like the log scene from Final Destination 2 "They said if it didn't split, it would have come all the way through and hit me. Advertisement "It could have ended up being really, really serious, I'm incredibly lucky that I kept control of the car after it hit and carried on driving until I could pull over. "The firemen, my friends and family all said that it was a guardian angel watching over me, which was lovely to hear." And shockingly, despite the huge gaping hole in the windscreen, Alannah's car - her first ever vehicle, that she acquired in January 2020 - sustained no damage to the bodywork whatsoever. She said: "The policeman laughed, actually, when I had finally calmed down, because he said, 'I can't believe there is not one single scratch on your car'." Advertisement Police removed the metal chunk and put They conducted a short investigation at the scene but determined that the incident was entirely accidental, Alannah said. The emergency services also commended the young student's driving and said without keeping a cool head and remaining in control of her car, things could have been much worse. Alannah's friends joked that her ordeal was like the famous scene from the action film Final Destination 2 in which logs fall off the back of a truck. Advertisement She said: "A lot of people keep saying it reminds them of that scene. That's been kind of the laughing joke today about it." She added: "I just feel very lucky with how it turned out. I feel very unlucky it happened, but very lucky I survived. "Luckily, it's only the windshield which is damaged, but it could have gone so seriously wrong. "All my friends that I've told, they were like, you honestly could have died, you could have been seriously injured. Advertisement "I've walked out of it intact though, I haven't even got a scratch on me. "My parents were very grateful that I was okay. My mum said it was my granddad who was watching over me, and looking after me." Alannah is soon heading back to university but shared her advice for other drivers in similar situations. She said: "I know it sounds stupid, but try and keep control of the car, and just try not to suddenly slam your brakes on. Advertisement "Just try and stay in contact and get yourself somewhere safe."
