Saw Doctors and Sunflower Children's Hospice team up for special Mayo fundraiser

The Saw Doctors have joined forces with Sunflower Children's Hospice for a special fundraising initiative at the band's sold-out Castlebar gigs this weekend, with 750 limited-edition t-shirts going on sale to fans.

The specially designed Saw Doctors t-shirts will be available for €25 at the band's two shows at the TF Royal, Castlebar, this Friday, September 4, and Saturday, September 5, with all proceeds going towards the Sunflower Children's Hospice.

The front of the t-shirt features Declan Colohan's photo of The Saw Doctors performing their iconic song 'Green and Red of Mayo', with the back print featuring the lyrics of the first verse, courtesy of writers Leo Moran, Davy Carton and Jarlath Al-Majar.

The fundraising drive comes as plans progress for the Sunflower Children's Hospice in Castlebar, which will provide care and support for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families across eight counties on the western seaboard.

Funded by the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, the project will be the first children's hospice built outside Dublin and the first of its kind constructed in Ireland since 2011.

A site has already been secured in Castlebar, with Government and HSE support committed for clinical governance, and construction is due to begin later this year.

Band member Leo Moran said The Saw Doctors were "over the moon" to have been part of the soundtrack to Mayo's All-Ireland win, and were looking forward to celebrating with the Mayo people in Castlebar.

He said the special event t-shirt, with all sales going to Sunflower Children's Hospice, would be "a lovely bonus" for the occasion.

Martina Jennings, CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, thanked Pat Jennings of the TF Royal Theatre and The Saw Doctors for their support, saying it was "incredibly special" to have such an iconic band using the excitement around the green and red to raise funds for the hospice.

She said the Sunflower Children's Hospice would provide vital care for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families across the West of Ireland, adding that communities, corporates and individuals were working hard to make the Castlebar facility a reality.

Every euro raised, she said, brought the project one step closer to opening its doors.