Spring in his step! Clinton gets behind Daffodil Day
HE’S a former president of America, a world-famous statesman known across the globe.
But Bill Clinton soon discovered that determined Irish Cancer Society worker Isabella Bray approaches everyone who crosses her path to seek their support.
Ms Bray was selling daffodils outside the Kilkenny Shop on Dublin’s Nassau Street yesterday when she spotted the former leader of the free world slip into the high-end store, surrounded by security staff.
So she decided it was time her charity recruited its most highprofile supporter yet, and waited for him to re-emerge.
Ms Bray, who was still collecting cash on the streets of Dublin when she spoke to the Irish Daily Mail last night, explained: ‘I’m just one of thousands of people all over Ireland who were out collecting for Daffodil Day for the Irish Cancer Society – I actually work for the Irish Cancer Society as well. I was outside the Kilkenny Shop and I saw Bill and his team had stopped off to have a bit of a shop, so as he was coming back out I thought it would be nice to give him a bunch of daffodils and explain what Daffodil Day is all about.
‘He was great, he stopped to
‘Very generous with his time’
chat to me and he said, “It’s a very good cause.”’
And Mr Clinton was more than happy to chat and pose for photos with Irish fans in the sunshine. Ms Bray said: ‘He was absolutely charming. He was all smiles, he shook my hand and he was very generous with his time.
‘He was very happy to stop and give everyone time to take a picture.’
On Thursday night, Mr Clinton was spotted at upmarket Peploe’s Wine Bistro on St Stephen’s Green, having attended Martin McGuinness’s funeral in Derry earlier that day.
He was in the company of businessman Denis O’Brien and wellknown hotelier and philanthropist John Fitzpatrick.
The group appeared to be in high spirits as they spoke with a passerby as they left the restaurant, a known hotspot frequented by celebrities and politicians.
Mr Fitzpatrick, an Irish-born, Manhattan-based hotelier, is a longtime friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton, having visited the couple in the White House when Mr Clinton was in office.
Mr O’Brien, also a longtime Clinton friend, has donated millions to the family’s foundation. In 2012, he was named a ‘Clinton Global Citizen’.
To support the Irish Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.ie.