Tributes have been paid to the founder of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation Jonathan Irwin who died over the weekend.
He set up the charity in 1997, along with his wife Mary Ann O'Brien, following the death of their young son Jack at 22 months.
It provides specialist home nursing and end-of-life care for children.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News At One, Jack and Jill Chief Executive Carmel Doyle said that staff were in shock and saddened, and it had been a very difficult weekend for them all, but they wanted to celebrate Jonathan’s life.
She said it was amazing to think out of all that grief the family were able to set up a foundation for others, adding that at the time in 1997, there were no other services outside hospitals.
Ms Doyle said that the family set out the blueprint for a homecare plan after deciding to take their son home to care for him with the help of some local nurses.
"It's a tribute to Jonathan. A man who was able to turn his grief into something so special that makes such a big difference, and the main thing I want to say today is a thank you to Jonathan, what a man he was".
She said that he was involved in Jack and Jill up until last month, and that he was involved in every campaign, particularly around using recycling to raise money.
"He took an active interest and he had a boundless energy. He was very well contacted across the country. He was brave. He was an advocate. He wasn't he wasn't afraid to take on the system," she said.
She added: "But mostly he energised people around and people responded to what he asked for and Jonathan's energy was boundless, his contacts, he was a born marketeer. He was a man who said, how can we raise money for this to make life easier".
"Parents will often say to us that Jack and Jill is the only service they don't have to fight for. Jonathan would have been inundated with requests.
"We used to say less red tape and more red carpet for these families and Jonathan was a big believer in taking up their cause. Fighting for that medical equipment they need, giving voice to parents and who are just too tired to give voice themselves".
She said that he would identify wrong and try turn things around, always wanting to make life easier for carers.
She added that he had lost three sons from his first marriage, and asked how he kept going despite his loss, he said: "What else can I do? And I have to move forward. I can't dwell on these things. And I want to use what I've gone through to the good of other people".
"Jonathan was larger than life. He also raised over €65 million for care for sick children.
"He was an editor, he worked in the horse racing industry. It was absolutely fantastic to be at a meeting with Jonathan and to be in his company. He was an inspiration".
