“Matthew knows we are there for him, and we know the community is there for us”
17:51, 20 May 2026Updated 17:55, 20 May 2026
Matthew and his mum Gina
A West Cork couple has had the toughest month of their lives, after their 4-year-old son suffered a medical incident that led to several life-saving surgeries – and saw him rushed from Cork to Dublin for urgent treatment.
The couple from Skibbereen, Daire and Gina Lynch, are both self-employed artists, but this month they have been constantly in and out of hospitals in Cork and Dublin with their son Matthew. They have been getting the best possible treatment for their boy, as Matthew required complex care after a medical emergency. But they have also had to put their work on the back burner.
Now, the West Cork community is rallying around them. Close friends of the Lynch family are fundraising on GoFundMe to help them cover their living costs so they can focus on their brave little boy, and the couple is extremely grateful.
Daire told CorkBeo about how Matthew ended up in hospital: “It was the 21st of April, and Gina and I were working in our studios at home while the ‘wee boss man’ was asleep. I was headed outside for some exercise when Matthew woke up in excruciating pain. We took him to South Doc in Bantry, who did not hesitate to send us straight to CUH.”
Matthew had critical acute symptoms that required life-saving surgeries in CUH. The family spent 10 grueling days there following his progress. Then he was rushed via ambulance to Temple Street Hospital, where he underwent more lifesaving treatment and emergency operations. All the while, neither Daire nor Gina were able to work as they had to spend all their time on the road or with their son.
A friend of the couple, Lauren Howitt, has since set up the fundraising campaign, which has massively exceeded its original goal of €5,00 and is now nearing €30,000. Donations have been pouring in from across the globe. Several donations have come in from the US, Australia, and the UK. But even with such support, every cent counts as all donations go towards helping the family stay afloat while they care for their brave boy. You can donate here.
Daire told Corkbeo: “It’s extremely humbling to see the kindness of so many people, friends and strangers alike. Although these people are not strangers to me, they are friends I have not met yet.”
Now the family is home, and Matthew has been discharged, but there is a long road ahead of them. Daire said the donations are “peace of mind for the future. We know Matthew will need more surgery, but now we won’t have to worry about making ends meet, and we can focus on our little man.
“Matthew understands what’s happening as much as any four-year-old could. But the main thing is that he knows we’re there for him, and now we know that the wider community is there for us.”
He added: “We really can’t speak highly enough of all the staff in CUH, Temple Street and Brú Colubanus accommodation. They made this all bearable for us, a constant professional and compassionate support. From the cleaning crew to the cooking staff who brought Matthew his meals every day, they really made his day and brightened his mood, and for that, we can’t thank them enough.”