26/03/2026
A huge thank you to The Great Fundraiser!
The Great Fundraiser for Marymount University Hospital and Hospice
On 21 June 2025, the Great Island community came together in a parade and 24-hour walk to raise funds in aid of Marymount University Hospital and Hospice. Members of the many clubs and community groups on the island gathered in the Prom, with their club colours, jerseys, flags and banners proudly on display. They were joined by family groups, individuals and several dogs! At 12 noon the parade commenced and made its way to Cobh Wanderers’ pitch at Old Church Park via The Beach, Harbour Hill, Cathedral Place, Sandymount, Top of the Hill, Orelia Tce and Tiknock. The parade was led by horses from An Garda Síochána’s mounted unit and musicians from the Garda Band. There was a tremendous turnout of young and old and a fantastic atmosphere as the community rallied to support a charity, which is a Cork institution.
Following the parade, a sponsored walk around the Wanderers’ pitch continued for 24-hours. In an amazing display of resilience and fitness, Ber Rowe and Tom O’Riordan walked for twelve hours each, with Tom walking from 12 noon to 12 midnight on 21 June and Ber taking over from midnight and finishing at 12 noon on 22 June. Ber remarked that ‘Cobh is a fantastic community. It has always and will always pull together to support local events, especially for a very worthy cause like this. It gave people of the town a sense of involvement, achievement, and belief.’
The parade and walk, which was sponsored by Shane Jones of Eurospar, Newtown, were just two of the many events that took place on Great Island to raise funds for ‘The Great Fundraiser’ for Marymount. Other events included participation in Cobh’s St Patrick’s Day parade, Cheltenham top tipster competition and whiskey draw in Ryan’s Bar, 3-ball scramble at Cobh golf club, a coffee morning at Cobh Youth Services, a housework challenge for the children of Catherine O’Halloran’s play school, participation in the Cork city marathon and mini-marathon, an air guitar competition at the Paddocks, a barbeque, a music event at Fota House organised by the Lions Club, Cobh, a collection by SWELS at one of their social events and a sky dive in conjunction with Breaking the Silence, Cobh. In addition, many individuals and businesses have donated directly to the fundraiser bank account and i-donate page.
The catalyst for ‘The Great Fundraiser’ was the passing of Cobh man Cormac Wyse in February 2025. His family and friends were so impressed with the care that Cormac received while in Marymount that they decided to set up a committee to raise funds for the hospice, a place that provides palliative care of the highest quality for those with a life limiting illness. Everyone on the Great Island, and in the city and county of Cork, has either personally experienced or knows someone who has benefited from the incredible work that Marymount does. The fundraising efforts on the Great Island was the community’s way to say thank you to Marymount for what they do every day for those with a life-limiting illness and for their families.
The sum of €157,574.56 has been raised for Marymount University Hospital and Hospice through ‘The Great Fundraiser’. This amazing amount has surpassed all expectations. The Great Island community has always been out on its own in relation to getting behind a worthy cause.
Thank you! Míle, míle buíochas!
