Cavan GAA star to appear on Late Late

Kiernan will be talking about his diagnosis and treatment for testicular cancer, his subsequent GAA comeback and his advice for young men watching.

Cavan footballing star Oisin Kiernan will appear this Friday night for a very special Late Late Show which celebrates Daffodil Day and recognises the nationwide army of volunteers and the legions of patients and families supported by the Irish Cancer Society.

Kiernan will be talking about his diagnosis and treatment for testicular cancer, his subsequent GAA comeback and his advice for young men watching.

It was around mid-2020 when Kiernan first visited his GP after discovering a lump.

For weeks he had pretended like it was nothing to be worried about. The footballer, a stalwart for both club and county, carried about his business as normal, working on his uncle’s pig farm in Killucan by day, training with Castlerahan by night.

After eventually getting checked out, a scan was booked. The following day Kiernan was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and by the end of September his testicle was removed, so beginning his road to recovery.

Such is a measure of the player and the man, Kiernan returned to the pitch in a Cavan jersey against Dublin, just six weeks after his final chemo session.

He also played a pivotal role in the 2020 Ulster winning title run, unlucky to miss out on an All Star nod.

For the second year in a row, the traditional annual Irish Cancer Society fundraiser had to be cancelled, due to the lockdown.

The Late Late Show says it is honoured to get behind the initiative and help raise vital money to fund the charity's night nursing services, the Irish Cancer Society support line, free counselling services for cancer patients and their families, as well as the 13 Daffodil Centres located at major hospitals across the country.

Others to appear on the show include Westlife star Shane Filan, who will be in studio, speaking to Ryan for the very first time about how he coped with recently losing both of his parents, Mae and Peter, to cancer, just ten months apart.

Pop twins Jedward, renowned for their truly outstanding quiffs, will be shaving their heads live on air to help raise Daffodil Day donations. John and Edward, whose mother Susanna died in 2019 from cancer, said of their upcoming appearance on the show: "We are honouring the memory of all those who have come and gone, we are sending strength and love to all those suffering. It's heartbreaking that all our loved ones aren't with us, but they will be looking down on us from heaven.”

Ryan will also meet some of the army of colourful volunteers who swim, run, bucket-shake, drive and cycle each year all in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. CEO of the charity Averil Power will share her own personal experience with the night nursing service.

Meanwhile, the band of the moment, Inhaler, will be in studio to perform their latest hit single, Cheer Up Baby. This will be the debut Late Late Show performance for the Dublin quartet.

The Late Late Show, RTÉ One, Friday, March 26, at 9.35pm.

Donate

Daffodil Day is this Friday, March 26, and donations can be done virtually this year. There are traditional Daffodil Day pins available at some shops and donation stations are available at Cavan Post Office and Ballyhaise Post Office.

Please click http://www.justgiving.com/daffodil-day-cavan to donate