Brilliant.
The Late Late Show viewers dipped their hand into their pockets and raised an astounding €2 million for Pieta House by midnight on Friday.
Friday’s show was dedicated entirely to raising funds for the mental health charity which recently had to let go 28 staff and cut pay by up to 30% due a significant funding gap.
The charity relies on public donations for almost 80% of its funding and has struggled during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Last month, it postponed its annual Darkness Into Light fundraising event which meant it lost on on €6 million in fundraising.
RTÉ revealed on Saturday that as of midnight on Friday, €2 million had been raised through donations on The Late Late Show.
This included a €100,000 donation from Electric Ireland, a long time supporter of the charity.
Speaking at the end of the show, host Ryan Tubridy said: “I’m not going to lie to you, we hoped if we could get €250,000, and shake the buckets that couldn’t be shaken tomorrow (for Darkness Into Light), we would have been more than happy, because we have asked a lot of the Irish people week in and week out.
“As the show has been going on, the figures have kept going up and up and up. I cheekily suggested we might make it to €1 million.
“You at home, we salute you. It’s beautiful. Thanks everybody. Remember you are not alone.”
Guests on the night included Pierce Brosnan, U2’s Adam Clayton, former President Mary McAleese, and Commander Chris Hadfield, Mary Black, Francis Black, Mary Coughlan and Sharon Shannon.
Pieta client Paul McEvoy also told his personal story to the Irish public.
On Saturday morning, thousands of people took part in a different version of Darkness Into Light.
The walk did not take place but people found different ways to acknowledge the fundraiser such as in Cork where 50 emergency vehicles met the morning light with blue light, or through social media.
For everyone taking part in a different #DarknessIntoLight this morning 🌅❤️👏🏻
Donate at – https://t.co/h2mpqbdbA3#DIL2020 @pietahouse pic.twitter.com/yyD7cC1NYS— JOE.ie (@JOEdotie) May 9, 2020
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