Comedian Brendan O’Carroll has launched a line of Mrs Brown’s Boys biscuits to raise funds for the St. Vincent de Paul.
O’Carroll and his wife and Mrs Brown co-star Jennifer Gibney appeared on Friday’s Late Late Show as part of the show’s annual fundraising drive for the charity and the 66-year-old Finglas man explained the background to his new venture.
"I know exactly how much it means to people, because we were that soldier"
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) December 17, 2021
Brendan O'Carroll talks about paying it forward & starts the ball rolling tonight with an incredible €50,000 ❤️️
To donate visit https://t.co/vkKmNtso0F or lo-call 0818 176 176 | #latelate @svp_ireland pic.twitter.com/RrdgRF937j
Inspired by a similar idea they saw in Canada, Brendan and Jennifer teamed up with Dunnes Stores and launched a pop-up shop in St Stephens Green in Dublin on Friday where people can buy the biscuits and donate to the SVP.
O’Carroll also spoke about how St Vincent de Paul had made such an impact on his life when he was growing up as part of a large family of 11 children in Finglas, Dublin with his widowed mother, Maureen.
When the charity called to his house to offer help, Maureen would tell the young Brendan that they were his "Uncle Vincent and Uncle Paul".
"When you’re helped by St Vincent de Paul, you feel compelled to give back because you’ve been that soldier," he said.
We're going to be on the #LateLateShow tonight talking Charity, Cookies & Charity @RTELateLateShow @SVP_Ireland @eastcoastbake @JennyGibney @brendanMrsBrown pic.twitter.com/MwBWV3J5jA
— Mrs. Brown's Boys (@MrsBrownsBoys) December 17, 2021
"When we were launching the pop-up shop today and signing things, the people from SVP came up to us and said you don’t know how much this means to us, but I do because we were that soldier. I know how it felt.
"When my Uncle Vincent and my Uncle Paul called, they’d bring bags of broken chocolate and they’d give my mam a bag of broken chocolate and we used to sit after our bath on Saturday and have broken chocolate and it was luxury! So, I know exactly what it means."
Please support the @SVP_Ireland Annual Appeal. Donate online https://t.co/mHmSlWyNQ0 or by phoning 0818 176 176. #svpireland #impossiblechoices #latelate pic.twitter.com/xfHJtIWtBL
— SVP - Ireland (@SVP_Ireland) December 17, 2021
He added, "I’ve been in the position and my mam has been in the position where you have to choose between getting your medicine or getting your food - take your pick because you’re not getting both.
"I’ve been sitting doing my homework wearing four jumpers because we just didn’t have coal."
Jennifer added, "You have a responsibility when you’re doing well to pay it forward."
O’Carroll, who stars in Mrs Brown’s Boys specials on RTÉ One and BBC over Christmas, has made a €50,000 donation to the charity and he urged viewers to donate what they could during what is a very difficult time for a lot of people over the festive season.
Joining the Late Late via video link, footballer Robbie Keane, Bob Geldof, Majella O’Donnell, and actor Colin Farrell read letters from people who had found hope and help from the charity and asked viewers to help with donations of their own.
The Late Late Show viewers and Irish businesses had already raised €500,000 for the charity by 10.30pm on Friday night.
To donate to the St Vincent de Paul go to svp.ie or Lo-call 0818 176 176.
