GREAT news from Jonathan Irwin, founder of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation for the care of sick children, after the final swing in the Irish Open, won last week by Ireland’s supreme golfer Rory McIlroy. His charity, the Rory Foundation, raised more than €1m thanks to McIlroy’s victory and a number of donations with the Irish Open prize pot bringing in €650,000. The total raised will be divided between three local charities - the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, Barretstown, the free, specially designed camps and programmes for children living with a serious illness, and the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.

Irwin commented: “On behalf of the 300 children with severe disabilities across the country, whose families receive home nursing care hours from Jack & Jill, I want to say a huge congratulations and thank you to Rory McIlroy who is both Irish Open and Children’s Charity Champion supreme.