An historic gift with heart: Eric and Barbara Kinsella donate €2m to Mater Hospital’s Coronary Care Unit Expansion

Businessman and philanthropist Eric Kinsella and his wife Barbara have pledged a life-changing €2 million gift to the Mater Hospital Foundation to enhance and expand the Mater Public Hospital’s Coronary Care Unit (CCU).

Mr Kinsella is founder of Esprit Investments, one of Ireland’s most active private investment and development companies.

The development of the Mater’s existing CCU, which is currently a 12-bed unit, will increase capacity, provide expert cardiac care, minimise infection control risks, and offer spacious, modern rooms for patients and their families.

As part of this commitment to enhancing cardiac care, the Coronary Care Unit will include the prestigious Kinsella Cardiology Recovery Suite, designed to set a new standard for patient recovery at the Mater.

This state-of-the-art facility will feature a five-bedded recovery unit and a thoughtfully-designed Family Room, ensuring comfort and care for both patients and their loved ones. A dedicated link corridor will seamlessly connect the CATH Labs to the recovery suite, revolutionising the patient journey. Remarkably, this marks a historic first for the Mater — establishing a specialised recovery area exclusively for cardiology patients.

The additional capacity, alongside the quality improvements of isolation rooms and a designated private family space, will move the whole continuum of care – particularly for emergency cardiac care – into a whole new realm.
For Eric and Barbara Kinsella, this gift was encouraged by their own connection to the Mater and a profound appreciation for the hospital’s life-saving work.

“Barbara and I feel privileged to give back to the Mater Hospital, a place that holds deep personal significance for us. Having experienced first-hand the exceptional care provided by Prof. Jim O’Neill and his team, we hope this gift will improve patient outcomes and support the dedicated medical teams who work tirelessly to save lives every day,” said Mr. Kinsella.

Mary Moorhead, Chief Executive of the Mater Hospital Foundation, expressed her heartfelt gratitude, saying, “Philanthropy has the power to drive real change in healthcare, and we are deeply grateful to Eric and Barbara Kinsella for their extraordinary generosity. Their transformational gift marks the largest single contribution the Foundation has ever received in its history. It will significantly enhance patient care and recovery, support our dedicated cardiac teams, and leave a lasting legacy of hope and healing for generations to come.”

This ambitious project, made possible through HSE funding and Eric and Barbara Kinsella’s generous philanthropic support, signifies a major step forward in ensuring continued access to world-class cardiology care for all Mater heart patients who need it. It is expected this new Unit will be open toward the end of 2026.

Malayalee Indians (MIND) Ireland supports Mater Patients

This spring MIND Ireland is inviting their community to take part in their ‘MIND Your Health Challenge 2025’, aimed at promoting wellness while supporting patients in the Mater Public Hospital.

Malayalee Indians (MIND) Ireland is a voluntary community organisation established in February 2008 with a view to provide a platform for Malayalee Indians in Dublin and around to promote the rich culture, heritage and tradition of Malayalees (natives of Kerala, South India).

To foster community spirit MIND organises various activities throughout the year, including cricket tournament, badminton tournament, family tour, family day, kids competitions and much more besides.

Participants are being encouraged to walk, jog or run 100 miles over the course of the month and raise vital funds in the process.

Their wonderful fundraising activities include:

• April 26th          Football Tournament
• April / May       100 Mile Challenge
• May 31st            Mind Mega Mela – 2025
• June 28th           Cricket Tournament

Mater Hospital Foundation Community Events Specialist Angi McNulty says, “Our sincere thanks to the amazing MIND Ireland community for coming together to make a difference for those who need it most in our hospital. We are honoured to have been selected as MIND’s charity partner for 2025.”

You can learn more about MIND Ireland’s ‘MIND Your Health Challenge’ and donate to support their fundraising by clicking here. 

Join our dynamic and dedicated team and become an important staff member who takes pride in making a life-changing difference in the lives of patients and their families who attend the Mater Hospital!

The Mater Hospital Foundation exists, with one specific goal – to improve patient care in the Mater Hospital. Our supporters help us achieve this by investing in state-of-the-art equipment that makes diagnosis and treatment more efficient and effective, enhancing facilities to create a comfortable and caring environment, and financing research that ensures the Mater is leading the way in medical innovation. Being embedded in the hospital highlights our cause, allowing us the honour of seeing first-hand the impact of our work. This is privilege we never take for granted.

We are now seeking an experienced Individual Giving and Legacy Fundraising Manager to oversee and grow our established individual giving and legacy programmes, which currently generate circa €1.2 million annually. This is a key leadership role within the Foundation’s fundraising team, focused on maximising long-term sustainable income from individual supporters and legacy gifts.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Supporter Care Executive, the Director of Development, the CRM Manager and the Marketing and Communications team. Duties and Responsibilities Individual

Interested? For more information on this role click here.

Please send a cover letter (maximum one page) outlining how your motivation, experience and skills fit the role and an up-to-date CV to rduffy@materfoundation.ie

Please insert Individual Giving & Legacy Fundraising Manager in the subject line. Only those selected for interview will be contacted.

Closing date: 11th April 2025

BIGGER! BOLDER! BLONDER! Marilyn’s Mater Paddle is back this May in Donabate, Co. Dublin

Bigger, bolder…BLONDER! Marilyn’s Mater Paddle is making a dazzling comeback this summer and hitting the beach at Donabate, Co. Dublin! Join the Mater Hospital Foundation on Sunday, 25^th May for the second-annual event that promises to kick off the summer season in style.

Take to the red carpet at our new location of the Shoreline Hotel before sashaying over to Balcarrick Beach for a sea dip with simply oceans of style, darling. Marilyn’s Mater Paddle brings together a galaxy of starlets dressed as Hollywood’s most iconic actress, with proceeds from ticket sales and fundraising going to support women’s cancer care in the Mater Public Hospital.

The event is open to adults of all ages with each gal or guy who signs up receiving their very own Paddle Pack, starring a blonde bombshell wig, retro red heart-shaped glasses and a beach-ball. All you need to do is wear your brightest red lipstick and a 1950s swimsuit or swing dress to perfect the look.

Whether you choose to dip your toes in the sea or simply enjoy the event on the beach, Marilyn’s Mater Paddle promises to be a memorable celebration of glitz, glamour and good times. Will you ‘boop boop be do’ it for women’s cancer care?

After our Marilyns emerge from their sea dip, they will make their way back to the Shoreline Hotel for a chic ‘Marilyn Mixer’ party, with refreshments and swinging tunes.

The funds raised from Marilyn’s Mater Paddle will go to support women’s cancer care in the Mater Public Hospital.Our supporters’ generosity and kindness has already helped fund projects such as psycho-oncology patient supports, a new mammogram machine, cancer research and chemotherapy supports, to name but a few.

Funds raised at this this unique event will ensure that the Mater Hospital Foundation can continue to support the hospital’s vital work where it is needed most to support women on their cancer journey.

Marilyn’s Mater Paddle supporter and Mater patient Mary Golden says, “This is a cause massively close to my heart. This charity hugely improves the quality of care and comfort for patients like me every day. I would absolutely love for everyone who can to come and join it. I promise you’ll have a great time, all the Marilyns had the best time last year.”

Launching the second-annual Marilyn’s Mater Paddle, Roisin Duffy, Director of Development at the Mater Hospital Foundation says, “Our inaugural Marilyn’s Mater Paddle last year was the most glamorous, fun and exciting event on our calendar, and we are thrilled to be hosting it again this year on Sunday, 25^th May in Donabate.”

She adds, “The event promises to be a fabulous day of glamour and glitz, while also being a really impactful fundraiser to support women being treated for cancer in the Mater Hospital. Get your friends or colleagues together and dress up for a great cause!”

This event is open to adults of all ages and genders. Everyone has an inner Marilyn waiting to shine! To register, simply visit www.materfoundation.ie/marilyn and buy your ticket to the event of the season today!

Send a Cards That Matter e-card or e-gift and make someone’s Christmas sparkle!

Sprinkle a little magic this festive season and make someone smile by sending a Card That Matters and help change patients lives in the Mater Hospital.

Visit our Cards That Matter Shop to browse our selection and pick your perfect card.

Sending an e-card couldn’t be simpler!

1. Choose your e-card and your donation amount

2. Personalise your card with your special greeting

3. Schedule or send your card right away and share the love

Your e-card can change lives

Whether you need a last-minute gift or just want to let someone know you’re thinking about them, by sending a Card That Matters, you’re doing something doubly special! Every card sent will raise vital funds to support patients in the Mater Public Hospital where it is needed most.

Select the perfect e-card here: www.materfoundation.ie/cardsthatmatter

Nova’s PJ and Jim call on Ireland’s men to take on The Dickie Dip!

Attention all men! The Mater Hospital Foundation has teamed up with Radio Nova’s Morning Glory presenters PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe to encourage men from all across Ireland to take part in The Dickie Dip; the annual, all-male, life-affirming skinny dip fundraiser, taking place in Skerries, Co. Dublin on Saturday, 16th November. Will you be as brave as PJ and Jim, leave your swimming trunks behind, strip off and take a dip in the sea in nothing but a dickie bow this November, all to support men’s cancer care in the Mater Hospital?

Be daring, be determined…be a Dickie Dipper for men’s cancer care and join PJ, Jim and hundreds of brave men baring it all and wading into the sea to help make a life-saving difference for men’s cancer patients in the Mater Hospital. Since the inaugural event in 2019, The Dickie Dip participants have stood in solidarity with their fellow men and raised a phenomenal €414,000 to provide essential supports and services for patients who need it most in the hospital.

This year, the Mater Hospital Foundation hopes to raise an ambitious €120,000 for men’s cancer care in the Mater, with the help of hundreds of brave dippers making a real splash in Skerries on Saturday, 16th November.

It couldn’t be easier to take part. Simply click here and fill out the short registration form. Every dipper who signs up will receive a free dickie bow and a personalised Eventmaster fundraising page, which they can share with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Participants will also be invited to join the Dickie Dip Facebook Group, where you can meet with fellow Dickie Dip participants and learn more about this exhilarating and impactful event.

Commenting on his support of the 2024 Dickie Dip, Radio Nova’s PJ Gallagher says, “Everyone knows I love getting up for the craic at the crack of dawn with Jim, so getting up for hundreds of dawning cracks will be an unreal experience for a brilliant cause! It doesn’t matter who you are or what shape you’re in, just wear a Dicke Bow and come and join us for the fun.”

PJ’s Morning Glory co-host Jim McCabe says, “I would have said there’s never a good reason for a middle-aged man to walk into the sea in the nip, turns out I was wrong! Cancer Care at the Mater Hospital is a great reason. So, assuming there’s nothing in the sea to nip me while I’m in the nip, I’m happy to help with PJ and it’s great that there is no need for us to worry about a dress code for the day.”

Speaking about The Dickie Dip 2024, Mary Moorhead, Chief Executive of the Mater Hospital Foundation says, “The Dickie Dip is back for 2024 and we are delighted to see our community of dippers continue to grow! We are thrilled to have the support of PJ and Jim for this year’s event and hope that their involvement will inspire and encourage brave men from all over Ireland to come along and get involved in Skerries on Saturday, 16th November. The commitment of our dippers to support men’s cancer care in the Mater is so inspiring and we continue to be humbled by their incredible fundraising every year.”

She adds, “On behalf of all of us in the Foundation and the Hospital, we’d like to say a special thanks to PJ and Jim for kindly giving their time to support this important event and for daring to dip this November! Our thanks to our wonderful Dickie Dip Skerries Committee, to our friends in Fingal County Council and to everyone who dips or donates to support this important cause. With your support, we can continue to have a positive impact on the lives of our brothers, sons, fathers, uncles, husbands and more, being treated for cancer in the Mater Hospital.”

To register for The Dickie Dip for men’s cancer care in Skerries, Co. Dublin on Saturday, 16th November, simply click here or call 01 830 3482 to learn more.

Return your Marilyn’s
Mater Paddle funds!

You’ve paddled, posed and pouted…and now it’s time to put those sponsorship funds to work for women’s cancer care in the Mater Hospital!

Marilyn’s Mater Paddle is not only a unique day of glamour and glitz but it will also make a real difference to the lives of women who come to the Mater Hospital for cancer treatment.

Below you’ll find details of how you can return the wonderful funds you raised. Remember, we are here to support you every step of the way, so if you’ve any queries, don’t hesitate to contact us at fundraising@materfoundation.ie.

Eventmaster

If you’ve been fundraising using your personalised Eventmaster page – great! You are all set! All funds raised on your page will come automatically to the Mater Hospital Foundation.

Website

You can return your funds online via our website here.
To help us identify your funds, please include your name in the reference field.

Cheque / Draft / Postal Order

Please note our bank will ONLY accept cheques made payable to The Mater Foundation. Please send to us at: The Mater Hospital Foundation, 53-54 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, D07 KH4C. Don’t forget to include your name so we can confirm receipt of funds.

Sponsorship Card

If you did your fundraising via sponsorship card, you can pop it back to us in the post along with a postal order with the amount you’ve raised. For safety, don’t send cash through the post!

Bank Transfer

You can send your Marilyn’s Mater Paddle funds to us by bank transfer by using the bank details below. To help us identify your funds, please include your full name in the reference field.

Account Name: The Mater Foundation
Branch: Bank of Ireland, Drumcondra, D9
Sort Code: 90-05-19
Account No.: 87067661
IBAN: IE92BOFI90051987067661
BIC: BOFIIE2D

If you need any support, contact us at fundraising@materfoundation.ie or
call 01 830 3482.

Friday, 24th November: Update regarding Remember Me Walk, Sunday, 26th November 

In light of events in the city centre over the past 24-hours and out of respect to our local community and healthcare workers, we have taken the difficult decision to cancel our planned Remember Me Walk in St. Anne’s Park, Raheny this Sunday, 26th November.

As this is a constantly evolving situation, we believe this is the correct decision in order to keep everyone safe.

We are disappointed that we won’t have the opportunity to gather with you on Sunday and we hope you will understand and accept our apologies. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this terrible incident.

To everyone who has fundraised in advance of the Walk to support end-of-life care, we would like to thank you for continuing to be there for our patients and their families.