BORN out of a family tragedy, the Jack & Jill Foundation has grown to become a lifeline for some 2,500 families since its start in 1997.

It was set up in 1997 by Jonathan Irwin and his wife Mary Ann O’Brien in memory of their son Jack who suffered a brain trauma shortly after birth. This left Jack developmentally delayed, and it shattered the dreams and hopes of his parents. Jonathan for many years was the driving force behind Goffs and the Phoenix Park, while Mary Ann, the founder of Lily’s Chocolates, is the daughter of Phonsie and Ann O’Brien, and the niece of Vincent.