If you've been looking for an excuse to dust off the mixing bowls and get the kids properly involved in something that isn't screen-related, here it is. The Great Irish Bake for Sick Children is back for its 18th year. It's the kind of thing that makes you feel like a good parent while also getting cupcakes out of the deal.
Award-winning food writer and TV presenter Donal Skehan has returned as ambassador for the campaign, calling on families, schools, workplaces and community groups across Ireland to host bake sales and coffee mornings on Friday 27th March. All funds raised will go directly to Children's Health Foundation, supporting sick children in Children's Health Ireland (CHI) hospitals and urgent care centres.
And before you panic about your questionable baking skills… nobody's expecting a showstopper. A wonky Victoria sponge made with tiny helpers counts just as much as something that belongs on a café counter. Possibly more.
Meet this year's star patient
This year's campaign is fronted by 11-year-old Saoirse McDonnell from Co. Clare. Saoirse was born healthy but was diagnosed shortly after her first birthday with a rare hereditary kidney condition, the same one that affects her father Gary. Over the past decade, she's spent long periods receiving care at CHI Temple Street and now travels from Clare three times a week for life-saving dialysis treatment.
Saoirse's story is a powerful reminder of what this fundraiser is actually about. Not just cake. Not just community spirit (though there's plenty of that). It's about the thousands of children and families who rely on CHI services every single day. The funding raised through the Great Irish Bake goes towards vital therapies, family supports, innovative technologies and life-saving research across CHI hospitals and urgent care centres in Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly.
Over €1 million raised in five years
With Donal's support and the generosity of bakers nationwide, the Great Irish Bake has raised over €1 million in the last five years alone. That's a lot of fairy cakes doing serious good.
Speaking at the campaign launch, Donal said: "The Great Irish Bake is one of those brilliant ideas that brings people together in the simplest way, a bake, a cuppa, and a bit of time. Knowing that something so small can make such a meaningful difference to children and families when they need it most is incredibly powerful, and I'm proud to support it year after year."
Long-time sponsor Gem is celebrating its eighth year backing the campaign. And to thank everyone who gets involved, there are some brilliant prizes up for grabs including a €1,500 Centre Parcs voucher, a Kenwood stand mixer and Gem baking hampers. Not bad for a bit of flour and effort on a Friday.
Bobby Mulligan, Managing Director of Gem Pack Foods, said: "We're proud to support the Great Irish Bake for the eighth year in a row. It's wonderful to see communities, schools and families coming together to bake for such an important cause. Every bake, big or small, helps make a real difference for children like Saoirse, and we hope more people across Ireland will join in to support this incredible initiative."
How to get involved
Registering is straightforward. Head to www.childrenshealth.ie/GreatIrishBake where you can sign up, access baking tips, recipes and downloadable resources from Donal and Gem to help make your event a success. Whether you're hosting a bake sale at the school gates, setting up in the office kitchen or just having a few neighbours round for coffee and traybakes… it all counts.
We all know the chaos of trying to bake with children. The flour everywhere. The arguments about who gets to lick the spoon. The slightly alarming colour combinations on the icing. But there's something genuinely lovely about turning that kitchen madness into something meaningful. The kids feel involved, you get to eat cake, and sick children benefit. That's a triple win by anyone's standards.
So mark Friday 27th March in the calendar. Dig out your best (or most forgiving) recipe. Get the little ones on decorating duty. And raise some dough for the kids who need it most.
Register now at www.childrenshealth.ie/GreatIrishBake and start planning your event.
