Pensioner who gave €30m to charity in her will...
Elizabeth gives Irish Cancer Society €6m... its biggest ever donation
IRELAND’S most generous woman has left €30million to five charities in her will.
Elizabeth O’kelly gave the Irish Cancer Society €6million – the biggest donation it has ever received.
It paid tribute to her “kindness and generosity” and is “investigating a number of projects in which the bequeathed funds will be invested”.
Mrs O’kelly, who was from Stradbally, Co Laois, died aged 93 in 2016. She was a shareholder in Clylim Properties which has extensive interests in Dublin.
It has been reported she made around €30million from the sale of the Leinster Leader Ltd in 2005.
A statement from the ICS yesterday stated: “We are deeply grateful to Mrs O’kelly for generously remembering people with cancer in her will.
“Her generosity will provide hope to so many people affected by cancer and deliver improvements in cancer care that would have been impossible otherwise. She was known for displaying great kindness towards her friends and being charitable in supporting those in need.
“This tremendous kindness and generosity is reflected in her decision to leave equal amounts in her will to five charities.
“Mrs O’kelly successfully battled cancer in the 1980s.
“She knew first-hand the challenges cancer patients face and the positive difference the Irish Cancer Society makes to them.
“When Mrs O’kelly was diagnosed, only three out of 10 Irish cancer patients survived. Today, six out of 10 do. This is thanks in no small part to the generosity of the Irish public in supporting our life-saving research, advocacy and patient support services.”
The ICS accounts show last year it generated €3.13million through the Daffodil Day and a further €9.55million from events, corporate initiatives and direct marketing.
Its shops had a turnover of €3.78million from which a profit of €813,000 was delivered.