Young girl who inspired the nation on Late Late Toy Show has died
Saoírse Ruane with former Late Late Show host, Ryan Tubridy.
A young girl who inspired the whole country after her appearance on the Late Late Toy Show has died.
Twelve-year-old Saoírse Ruane from County Galway passed away on Tuesday after a long illness.
Saoírse won the hearts and minds of the nation when she talked about her battle with a rare form of cancer with former Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy in 2020.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, her story, full of courage and bravery, resonated in every corner of the country as she helped launch the inaugural Toy Show appeal.
Over €6 million was donated in a matter of hours and since then more than €17.5 million has been raised by the annual appeal.
Last March she was the Grand Marshal at the St Patrick's Day parade in Galway.
In a tribute on social media, Ryan Tubridy described Saoirse as a “selfless, humble, kind, optimistic and thoughtful child”.
“She was everything we should and could be as a country and her passing will put so much into perspective for so many of us,” he said.
Saoírse is survived by her parents Ollie and Roseanna, her younger sister Farragh-Rose and half-sister Rebecca.
