Laois woman leaves €30 million to Irish charities in her will

A Laois woman, who died in 2016, split €30 million between five Irish charities in her will, it has been revealed.

Elizabeth O’Kelly, who was 92 when she died, was from Stradbally and gave an equal €6 million donation to five charities, including the Irish Kidney Association, the Irish Heart Foundation, the RNLI, the Irish Society for Autism and the Irish Cancer Society, who had never received a donation as large.

Two of the charities have released statements on O’Kelly’s generosity, detailing how they have spent their donations. The Irish Kidney Association have bought a house in Co. Cork to be converted into a support centre for patients, and are currently negotiating with the HSE to complete a dialysis unit in Tramore, according to IKA Chief Executive Mark Murphy, speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

The Irish Cancer Society said that they were “deeply grateful” for O’Kelly’s donation, and that “her generosity will provide hope to so many people affected by cancer and deliver improvements in cancer care that would have been impossible otherwise.”

The ICS added that O’Kelly was “known for displaying great kindness towards her friends and being charitable in supporting those in need,” and attributed her generous donation to her own struggle with cancer over 30 years ago. “Mrs O’Kelly successfully battled cancer in the 1980s. She knew first-hand the challenges cancer patients face and the positive difference the Irish Cancer Society makes to them in their time of need,” they said.