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Galway was named as the most generous county in Ireland for GoFundMe donations. Alamy Stock Photo

Ireland donated almost €50 million on GoFundMe this year, the most generous country globally

Across almost 15,000 fundraisers launched in Ireland this year, a total of almost €50 million was raised for various causes by more than 850,000 donations.

IRELAND REMAINS THE most generous country in the world for the sixth consecutive year for GoFundMe donations.

Across almost 15,000 fundraisers launched in Ireland this year, a total of almost €50 million was raised for various causes by more than 850,000 donations, the crowdfunding platform announced today.

Galway was named as the most generous county in Ireland by the platform, followed by Limerick and Cork. Waterford and Dublin were the fourth and fifth most generous, respectively.

The platform said that the generosity of the West of Ireland in particular “has been truly remarkable, with communities rallying together to support both local and international causes.”

The causes that raised the largest amount of funds included funding overseas medical treatment for Irish children, efforts to rebuild a family home lost in a fire, and urgent aid to families in Gaza.

GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan said that the news that Ireland had retained its title of most generous country in the world on the platform “are a testament to the Irish spirit”.

“The Irish people’s incredible kindness and willingness to help others, even during challenging times, continues to inspire. Whether donating €5 or €500, every act of generosity creates a ripple effect of hope and change.”

The campaign that raised the largest amount of funds was a campaign launched to fund the future care of Joe Slattery, a teenager who received life-changing injuries while training with his parish team in November. Joe will require life-long care, and the campaign has thus far raised over €650,000.

Other campaigns included treatment for Caitríona Logan, a doctor and mother-of-two who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. Caitríona has since passed away, and the excess funds are to be donated to the Irish Cancer Society.

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
    Favourite Frank Mc Carthy
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:06 PM

    Can’t say I’m surprised Ireland comes out on top, well done & kudos to all who contributed to such worthy causes.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:09 PM

    @Frank Mc Carthy: Perhaps you contributed part of the vast sums that you brag about winning through gambling?

    80
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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:13 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: fairly nasty response to a nice post.

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:14 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: ??? An occasional €20 or €50 punt on Premier League I’d hardly consider ‘vast sums’— but Mrs Mc Carthy & I do contribute to causes close to our hearts, though at a loss as to why that would be any concern of a multi account troll tbh

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    Mute Peter Mann
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:15 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: give it a rest

    26
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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:17 PM

    @Joe/Frank/Peter: You’re the only multi-account troll here, and you were bragging laughably about winning ‘a few grand’ on a Man U/Chelsea/Spurs treble on Sunday.

    77
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    Mute FlipBip
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:42 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: This is a news site, not somewhere to stalk people that you have some sort of vendetta against. You should probably put the phone down for a while. Go walk your dog or whatever.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:46 PM

    @FlipBip: Not ‘people’: one person, who consistently ruins these comments sections.

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    Mute FlipBip
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:51 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: I suggest you look in the mirror bud. What Frank and his lovely wife do, is none of your concern.

    20
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    Mute Eoin Jackson
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:14 PM

    @Frank Mc Carthy: had a question for you on your recent treble, 11/2 was it?

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:17 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: For God’s sake, take the tablets!

    13
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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:18 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: your once again the person who ruined this comment section.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:19 PM

    @Eoin Jackson: Yes, 11/2 is what he claimed.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:29 PM

    @Megan Ward: Those are fair points, but I still see some value in calling this person out (why, for example, did he feel the need to create yet another profile yesterday?). I do feel that he hampers and distorts discussion, and effectively suppresses free speech. Given that many of his profiles have been deleted for abuse, we may take it that *he* has been banned from the site, but he is still here, and the Journal clearly isn’t going to address this problem effectively.

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:29 PM

    @Eoin Jackson: yep Eoin, 11/2….. thought that was a goner for 85min of the derby tbh!!!! not so fortunate with Bournemouth last night

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    Mute Megan Ward
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:35 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: They either don’t care, don’t notice, appreciate the engagement it drums up, any of the above. Calling it out just gives them the warm and fuzzies that some people get when they feel they’re annoying someone – y’know, instead of getting that from doing something fun or nice. I don’t even think one profile per IP address would even help at this stage, because someone that determined will just use VPNs. What a waste!

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    Mute Maximilian Kolbe
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:35 PM

    @Megan Ward: we didn’t ask for a Novel

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:36 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: brenny, I’ve said it a gazillion times… what your accounts have reduced this site to is sad and pathetic….. we know you’re ‘untouchable ‘ by journal.ie moderators ( for whatever reason ), but I’ll keep calling your accounts out. You do not OWN this site….get that??? I have 1 account, 1 email address & 1 phone number…. this incessant bullying of every genuine contributor, or accusations of every new ‘member’ on here simply HAS to stop. I WILL WALK alongside you, I’ll HELP you all I can ,but YOU have to take the 1st step— YOU!!

    12
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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:39 PM

    Proof that ‘Frank’ is lying appears in the following link (Gerry Kelly thread in the comments), where he accidentally switches to ‘Kevvy kerrr’.

    https://www.thejournal.ie/world-reaches-300-bn-climate-finance-deal-at-cop29-6551764-Nov2024/

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:42 PM

    @Megan Ward: Perhaps you’re right, and there is no point to this calling out. I just don’t like to see people being manipulated.

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:45 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: you’ve tried this deflection before……we know you are / operate that ‘kevin kerrr’ account…… jeez, you’ve been EXPOSED plenty times.

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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:56 PM

    @Megan Ward: sadly, Megan, I think the ‘brenny’ accounts are simply untouchable. Appreciate those accounts spoil the ethos/ value of the site, but what can you do?

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    Mute Regular John
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    Dec 17th 2024, 6:16 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien:
    The only one ruining the comment sections is you ! You’re on here spewing shíte 24/7. Get a life man, seriously get a life.

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    Mute Eoin Jackson
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    Dec 17th 2024, 6:47 PM

    @Frank Mc Carthy: see Frank this is where I struggle. Because as I told you previously, bet 365 no longer take my custom, but it does from a couple of friends of mine. And I know one of those friends backed that treble. He even sent the screenshot in to a WhatsApp group we have. I was asking for clarification because I thought the 11/2 might be a typo and you meant 11/1. Because that’s what the odds on that treble was with 365. Or sorry just shy of 11/1 would but I would have let you round up. You got absolutely rinsed on that treble. United were 9/2 to win. By themselves. In a single. I backed that myself. But 11/2 on the treble? Terrible value Frank, you mustn’t have used 365!

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    Mute liam mc meel
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:48 PM

    Could be a good front for money laundering ?

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    Mute Tricia G28
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:09 PM

    @liam mc meel: No. To be effective the amounts being donated would have to be large, which immediately draws attention. There are quite a few reasons why it wouldn’t work.

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    Mute Jacintha Dumbrell
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:28 PM

    Every far-right grifter has a GoFundMe so this doesn’t surprise me. Usually has; “Support my work as I harrass and video poor people in tents along the canal.”

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    Mute Peter Mann
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:35 PM

    @Jacintha Dumbrell: probably just the voices in the vacuum between your head

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    Mute Paul Hackett
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:36 PM

    @Jacintha Dumbrell: what, loony alert

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    Mute Ciaran
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:46 PM

    I’m aware go fund me is primarily a charity funding website but this does show how relaxed we are with money in a global sense. Now ask yourself, why do we pay higher prices here than in other countries for products? Because Irish consumers will still pay for it even if it’s more expensive.

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    Mute Paddy Short
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:19 PM

    @Ciaran: You are on to something there Ciaran, I think. We used to have a (good) reputation as being a very generous nation, this attracted grifters from all over who exploited the charity sector to benefit themselves. Many were eventually caught and the charity sector went heavily downhill as a result. This article suggests we either have some more lessons to learn or we need better governance of the crowd funding sector. There are many good causes that need support but probably many more that are nothing but a scam. I would be interested to hear what GoFundMe’s profit reports are like, I assume someone is making a mint from it. Be very careful of who and how you support. I note the CEO of the once popular Bothar was up in court recently, a case in point.

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    Mute qffaffaf affrafrfraf
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:04 PM

    Fools and their money are easily parted

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    Mute Paul Quinlan
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:06 PM

    @qffaffaf affrafrfraf: You seem like the type to run when it’s their round.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:07 PM

    @qffaffaf affrafrfraf: Did you read the article?

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    Mute FoxyBoiiYT
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:08 PM

    @Paul Quinlan: You’re assuming anyone would want to drink with him. Big leap there!

    26
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    Mute Frank Mc Carthy
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    Dec 17th 2024, 3:09 PM

    @qffaffaf affrafrfraf: nope, can’t see how or why you’d negatively call anyone giving a ‘dig out’ to a cause they believe in ( whether it be cancer care, medical operations ../ whatever) ‘ foolish’.

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    Mute Hotirish
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    Dec 17th 2024, 4:01 PM

    We are a charitable bunch well done us!

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    Mute Paul Red
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    Dec 18th 2024, 6:04 PM

    #proud to be Irish

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