Galway community raises €119,000 for Galway Hospice during Sunflower Days 2026

More than 500 volunteers come together to support specialist palliative care across Galway.

Galway Hospice has thanked the people of Galway for another extraordinary show of community support during this year’s Hospice Sunflower Days campaign. Thanks to the generosity of the public and the dedication of more than 500 volunteers, the annual fundraising campaign raised €118,716.63 to support specialist palliative care services across Galway.

Over two days, more than 500 volunteers took to the streets across Galway city and county, selling sunflower pins and merchandise in communities including Galway City, University Hospital Galway, Westside, Knocknacarra, Salthill, Renmore, Ballybane, Headford Road, Briarhill, Oranmore, Claregalway, Headford, Athenry, Inis Mór, Ballinasloe, Barna, Furbo, Craughwell, Gort, Loughrea, Moycullen, Mountbellew, Portumna and Tuam. Local schools also took part by hosting Sunflower Fun Days, where children planted sunflower seeds provided by Galway Hospice.

Galway Hospice extends its sincere thanks to the many volunteer organisers, schools, businesses and community groups who made this year’s campaign possible. Special thanks go to corporate volunteer teams from Intact Insurance, Zimmer Biomet, Ribbon Communications and Medtronic; to Galway Chamber; to the management and staff of shops and businesses across Galway who hosted collections; and to Deavey Transport, together with Galway Hospice’s volunteer drivers, for their invaluable support.

Speaking after the campaign, Mary Nash, CEO of Galway Hospice, said:

“Every year, Sunflower Days reminds us of the extraordinary kindness that exists within our communities. The generosity shown by the people of Galway, together with the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, helps ensure Galway Hospice can continue providing specialist palliative care and support to patients and families when they need it most. We are deeply grateful to everyone who donated, volunteered or supported the campaign in any way.”

Supporting patients and families every day

Funds raised through Hospice Sunflower Days help Galway Hospice continue providing specialist palliative care free of charge to patients and families across Galway. They also support a range of services that enhance quality of life and provide comfort during some of life’s most difficult moments, including:

• Offering complementary therapies such as music therapy, art therapy and aromatherapy, helping to enhance comfort, wellbeing and quality of life for patients at home and in the hospice.
• Supporting individuals and families through bereavement services, including one-to-one counselling, group programmes, the Walk & Talk group in Barna, the monthly Bereavement Café in Galway City, and the fortnightly Carers Connect service.
• Investing in the future of hospice care through the planning and development of a new hospice to meet the growing needs of patients and families across Galway.

Last year, Galway Hospice supported more than 1,600 patients and their families through inpatient, community and day care services. The hospice was involved in the care of 78% of people in Galway who died with a malignant diagnosis, highlighting the vital role specialist palliative care plays in supporting patients and families across Galway.

Every euro raised locally stays locally, helping Galway Hospice continue providing specialist palliative care and support, free of charge, to patients and families across Galway.