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Irish Independent
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Wexford's Relay for Life was emotional and inspirational attracting 150 cancer survivors, the largest group to date
Founded by the late Gay Murphy who sadly passed away in 2022 this year's event attracted over 150 cancer survivors, the largest group to date who gathered to celebrate their journey. A little after 9.30pm, as the darkness rolled in, over 4,000 candles laying in white paper bags, lit the pathway. Each one telling a story and cherishing a memory. The four words which embodied what the past ten years were all about are: celebrate, remember, fight back. The climax of the event was the Candle of Hope Ceremony, two silent laps in which the constant chatter and laughs is momentarily suspended. A lantern which symbolises hope and our own frailty, was first carried by Jean, Saoirse and Aoibhinn Bates before being passed to Global Hero of Hope Annette Healy, who led the final lap. Annette is celebrating 21 years of survivorship, a powerful message for all, but especially those recently diagnosed with cancer. After being named as a Global Hero of Hope, Annette told South East Radio: 'I'm 20 years cancer-free. I had an amputation. I lost my leg, my hip. Unfortunately, my prosthesis didn't work out for me so I'm in a wheelchair. It's an honour to think that the Relay for Life Wexford thought that much of me to put me forward.' The first song played from the stage to break the silence was Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, at which point tears were flowing down people's faces and the chatter, fun and craic got going again. This year there were 38 teams who are the heartbeat of the event. Each have a tent around the pitch and an army of helpers ensuring that there is always a member of the team walking the track every minute of the 24 hours. A fundraising target of €100,000 was set, which unsurprisingly has again been smashed. Every penny going to support a battle which every family across Ireland will have been touched by. As survivors, family, friends and team members walked hand in hand, a dedicated team of volunteers worked tirelessly throughout day and night to make the event a success. In total there were 170 volunteers involved over four days. Relay for Life committee member Melrona O'Neill said: 'A special shout-out to the Wexford Volunteer Centre, who support us in so many meaningful ways, from organising workshops to handcraft decorations for our Survivors Tent, to supporting this year's stunning Decade of Hope Tent. 'One of the standout contributions came from the Refugee Volunteer Club, where 40 volunteers came together over three months to create the main decorative pieces for our tents. We also had a giant butterfly installation made up of hundreds of individually crafted butterflies, created by a group of 100 people from a disability workshop.' Alongside Bride Street folk group who were standout performers and Barbell Health who hosted an early morning fitness class, local artists gave their time to support the event from the stage. One of those was Wexford artist Shane Clancy who performs using the stage name, 'Shancy'. ADVERTISEMENT Shane's family has also been touched by cancer. 'My mam passed away from cancer and my granny passed away from cancer. So when the opportunity to perform at Relay fell into my lap it felt like the right thing to do', Shane said. 'I know basically everybody there has felt the way I've felt at one point or another. So it was kind of a bonding moment. It was nice that I was able to give people a little bit of entertainment as they went about their walk. 'At Relay, yes there is that sense of looming sadness and grief. But at the end of the day it's a coming together and a celebration of the people who we are remembering.' Shancy was supported by his friends Matthew Richards on drums, Cian Bates on the base, James Hanley on the guitar and a classmate from college in England Sam Hendra, who was over for the event. Last year, funds raised from Wexford's relay supported 674 car journeys so 67 patients could be safely transported to and from their appointment, 211 nights of nursing care allowing patients at the end of their lives to be at home with their loved ones, 539 free counselling sessions for those affected by cancer and 409 supportive and comforting conversations through the support line. Relay for Life is one of the most important fundraising initiatives for the Irish Cancer Society, who are the largest voluntary funder of cancer research in Ireland. Since 2021 Ciara Hughes has been the society's Relay for Life Campaign Manager. Reflecting on the success of the Wexford relay, she said, 'Thanks to cancer research, for many people cancer is no longer a death sentence.' Over half of patients are now alive five years after their diagnosis and there are 220,000 cancer survivors in Ireland. 'The Irish Cancer Society receives just 5 per cent of our funding from the Government,' Ciara continued. 'We cannot thank the Relay for Life Wexford committee and all those who support this important event enough.'
Irish Independent
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Former MEP Mick Wallace won't rule out presidential bid – but ‘certainly wouldn't run' if Catherine Connolly is on the ballot
While the former Ireland South MEP said he was so far 'unimpressed' with the mooted candidates, he described the Independent TD as the only candidate who could fill the role 'like Michael D [Higgins] did'. Speaking to South East Radio's Morning Mix with Alan Corcoran, the developer and left-wing politician said that he would 'never say never' about entering the race, but he 'certainly wouldn't run against Catherine Connolly, I can tell you that'. Asked whether he would consider a presidential bid, he said: 'Oh, listen, that's a hard question. First of all, the president in Ireland wasn't a role I see as incredibly significant over the years but I would say that Micheal D has changed that.' Mr Wallace said the current president has been 'powerful' and 'hasn't been afraid to tell the truth' on important issues, including 'to call out the truth in Gaza and expose Israeli war crimes and the complicity of western governments in that'. He added that President Higgins 'has elevated the role like nobody before him, he has put Ireland on the map in a certain way, in how he has handled his portfolio'. "He has brought great prestige to a job that didn't have it before that. It has become a very important position because when you can use your voice, when you can get a platform to express your views on things and not be afraid and do so without fear, that's important and that's a very significant role to play,' he said. "I have seen the names being bandied about for the presidency and, my God, I'm not impressed. I'm not impressed with who's threatening to go forward for the job because in my opinion, any name I've seen so far wouldn't be a patch on Michael D,' he said. "They would be a very pale shadow and they would actually, if anything, they just wouldn't do anything for the role. There's one person that I would love to see stand in Ireland and I certainly wouldn't stand if she was standing and that's Catherine Connolly from Galway.' He described the Galway West TD and former leas-cheann comhairle of the Dáil as 'the business' and the only potential candidate he could see filling the role 'like Michael D did'. "If you're asking me would I consider running for the presidency, well, I certainly wouldn't run against Catherine Connolly, I can tell you that,' he said. Asked whether he would consider a presidential bid if Ms Connolly does not run, Mr Wallace said: 'Let's see. Let's see.' When it was put to him that he did not rule out a presidential bid, the former MEP said: 'Listen. We never say never, I mean let's see. I don't know anything. I don't know. We'll see.' Ms Connolly is seen as the front-runner for a potential candidate who could represent a number of parties on the left. She previously said she would consider running if approached by a wide range of groups and parties.
