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COLIN FARRELL IS set to run the Dublin Marathon this year to raise money for people living with the genetic condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).
The actor appeared on The Late Late Show alongside Emma Fogarty, who is Ireland’s longest-surviving person with the skin condition, which is also known as Butterfly Skin.
The condition makes skin so fragile that it can tear or cause painful blistering at the slightest touch.
Fogarty and Farrell have been friends for 14 years. To mark her 40th birthday, the actor will take part in Dublin Marathon on 27 October to raise money for Debra Ireland, the national charity helping 300 people living with EB in Ireland.
Farrell will run in the marathon and push Fogarty in a wheelchair for the final four kilometres.
Speaking about Fogarty, Farrell said: “She is wickedly funny and one of the most extraordinary human beings I’ve ever met.
“Her spirit and her sense of humour and her kindness, and her joy for life is astonishing, in spite of what she’s lived with.”
Colin Farrell on why he’s running the Dublin marathon #latelate pic.twitter.com/ztWv6Dxask
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) October 18, 2024
Farrell said that what Fogarty deals with every day “is extraordinary” and “so uncommonly cruel”.
He also criticised the Government for not allocating specific funding for people living with the condition, deeming it “inhumane”.
“I get the ridiculousness of Mr Hollywood, Money Bags Farrell coming out and asking for money, that’s not lost on me,” Farrell said.
“But the government has a responsibility to the people of Ireland to look after the people of Ireland to the best of their ability, to cut corners where the people are going to suffer the least and to put the money where people are going to be given the most support and the help that they need.”
He said Debra Ireland has sought €695,000 from the Government for the last three years. This would go towards home nursing care, mental health support and outreach care for people living with EB.
No specific funding was allocated for EB care in the Budget, with Farrell adding that €695,000 for 300 people is “a drop in the ocean”.
Describing her condition, Fogarty said “hard is an understatement”.
“There’s no words for how to live with it day-to-day,” she said.
Today I had a full bandage change, four hours, the pain is excruciating. The pain is constant. Sitting here now, I’m in agony.
Fogarty, who is from Co Laois, said that when she was born, doctors told her parents that “I wouldn’t survive a week, and that it’d be better if I didn’t”.
On reaching her milestone birthday, Fogarty said there is “a lot I’d like to say” to the doctors.
“Part of me would love to say ‘in your face’. I have lived a really difficult life where there is no break. The pain is constant, the bandages are constant. It’s like a revolving door in our house. Doctors aren’t always right, and I think I’ve proved them wrong now.”
She also said that taking part in the marathon will take its toll on her physically.
“I’m going to sleep through November, literally. That’s not a joke. After the run, after the pain, after the exhaustion, I will sleep,” she said.
On taking part in the marathon with Farrell, Fogarty said: “Apart from my family, I trust no one more than you to push me for that last 4k.”
More information on Epidermolysis Bullosa can be found on Debra Ireland’s website.
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Good man Colin, if you stand for nothing you’ll fall for anything, we’ll done for highlighted such a condition.
@Matt D: Colin is some legend taking on that distance. I have donated in support of this magnificent feat and suggest everyone also contribute to this cause.
The sad truth is that funding is there for this and many other things that would make life better for every citizen. There is just so much of our money squandered and given away, by the crooks that run this place, that people suffer needlessly. We need a radical change in this country but it won’t happen until things get much worse, unfortunately. Most people aren’t nearly as angry as they should be.
@FlipBip: There is a complacency emanating from a certain segment of Irish society,The comfortably numb.
@FlipBip: Keep voting for FFG and you gonna love what they have for you.
@FlipBip: Things did get much worse back when the imf had to come in, it could not have got much worse, but the Irish electorate simply swapped FF for FG, which is pretty much same old same old until FF and FG became FG. Nothing will change as FG represent what the majority of Irish people are and what they want
@FlipBip: Also, if this young lady’s condition had been the result of medical negligence she’d have been awarded millions in compensation, a total refit of her home, and round the clock care. If it’s not anyone’s fault, you get nothing. That seems pretty screwed up to me.
Inhumane cancer patients waiting list up to 9 months to see oncologist /start radiotherapy.
Inhumane treatment towards kids needing life saving surgeries for scoliosis, inhumane treatment towards kids with disabilities being treated like dirt in this country, cutting funding towards special schools, and the reckless squandering of money. There is a long list for many people suffering in this country.
@Rosie Martin: as i keep saying this country is goosed….the top dont care and never will cause they never will have to experience the normal day to day of every average joe…child services in this country is a joke u only have to look at poor fella from drogheda to see how bad it really is
Ah well, at least we have a lovely bike shelter. Think before you vote!
She’d have been better off being buddies with someone in Fine Gael instead of Colin Farrell. This is Ireland. If you don’t know the right people forget about it.
When you still have a party in power that had a doctor as minister for health and admitted after losing his seat that cuttinrf funding for vulnerable children was repugnant but went ahead with it anyway.
I still dont hear thay same Dr James Reillu criticise his party now so i guess hollow words.
Before I read another negative comment about Colin Farrell, it’s well known he’s an advocate for Debra for a number of years. I read the articles on Debra frequently as I think it’s one of the worst conditions, if not the worst condition for any human being to have to endure, a life of sheer pain and torture – I’m sure people with compassion and empathy are supporting the organisation in any way they can, Colin is doing a great thing, fair play – if it takes a well known celebrity to make people pay attention then he’s made a positive impact.
Would not be a fan of Colin, but he is fantastic in the Penguin.
@David Coburn: could be anyone with all the prosthetics, would you even know it’s him.
@Phillip Smyth: what?
@Phillip Smyth: could be any great actor, not anyone
@David Coburn: He’s fantastic. Obviously the prosthetics help but he inhabits the character so so well. There’s some subtle eye movement and little voice shifts in certain scenes that are just amazing to watch.
No spoilers people. Please people don’t mention a single detail for those who haven’t watched yet…but episode 4!!!! Oh wow!!! Brilliant, just brilliant!!!
@SerotoninWars: that’s only because you know it’s CF in disguise.
Will all due respect to the woman, she looked very ill, she could have got someone better than CF he’s only promoting the penguin, if it helps young children to get treatment for cancer and radiotherapy well and good.
@Phillip Smyth: Why does colin farrel upset you so much, phillip? Let’s see how his appearance tonight plugging his film makes for a good cause?? While fffg may have to suddenly take notice.
@Phillip Smyth: yes I’m confident he spent 14 years working with this woman and the related charity so that one day he could get that plug he desperately needs on the late late show.
Great comment.
@Phillip Smyth: how dare you. He is not doing this to promote his new penguin movie.
@Niall Flynn: what have you done to help someone lately? You just suspect any body who tries to help the less fortunate. Not every body is like you.
@Phillip Smyth: ir just maybe he’s using the international buzz around his movie to highlight the plight of this person to a much wider audience. Strange comment Phillip.
@Phillip Smyth: The whole tragic point is that she couldn’t get anyone BUT Colin. What is wrong with you?
There’s no money for it. Sinn Fein would wreck the economy.
@jak: you ain’t seen nothing yet. Wait until you hear the maintenance costs on all the bespoke material which needs to be imported. And what happens when those companies don’t exist? Well just look at the footpaths around Dublin. It’s like a patchwork quilt.
@Peter McGlynn: and under instructions from pentogonies beni natanagi making more hamas fans every min… they can bee sun in eu making revenge for suports… And our little wealthy country can come to…
Colin take a ticket and join the lack of funding queue.
Its a shame celebrities have to go on air highlighting deficiencies in this “wealthy” country. And fair dues to Colin Farrell. Let’s start a list of illnesses, conditions and services with little funding or poor/no services. E.B. Autism, Scoliosis, public addiction services, public mental health services, over whelmed social workers, under staffed front line health care workers, not enough gardai, teachers, doctors, soldiers, sailors to man the naval vessels, builders, prison spaces, a & e departments, cathlabs, medical consultants (but plenty of government consultants and advisers), school places, school transport places….. 10s of billions spend every year for what.
@Spanner: why dont you run next election, which looks like it will be before Santa comes. You obviously have all the answers to inefficiency on HSE, lack of Gardai , school teachers etc , even though the taxpayer is spending 10 of billions, oh a while you are at it, maybe you could round up a few more carpenters , brick layers to build more houses
I have never heard of this condition. Emma Fogarty and “Debra Ireland”
@Andy Paralegal: that’s because it’s so rare and government don’t care about anyone with this. Or any other life threatening conditions
This is a great cause and hopefully it will raise lots of money for all who are suffering, with regard to CF he is not a good actor, he got lucky and the penguin is his best role, because really you would never know it was him.He should have had pro
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