daa announces 3 great charities it will support in 2026

daa, the operator of Cork and Dublin airports, has announced the three charities it will support in 2026 as part of its highly successful Charities of the Year programme.

The charities, chosen by daa employees, are Cancer Fund for Children, Keeley D Foundation, and the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

All daa’s fundraising activities over the coming 12 months will be directed towards these three great causes.

daa's Charities of the Year programme has raised almost €5m for Irish charities since its inception in 2007. Each year, the chosen partnerships reflect daa’s continued commitment to supporting organisations that make a meaningful difference to communities across Ireland.

Miriam Ryan, daa Chief Governance and Strategy Officer and Company Secretary said: "Every year, our employees come up with all manner of innovative and exciting ideas to raise money for great causes. I can't wait to see what they come up with this year as we aim to break through the €5 million mark in terms of the amount of money raised over the 20 years of the daa Charities of the Year programme. The monies they raise will be combined with donations from passengers in our airports to support these three fantastic charities that are close to the hearts of the team here at daa. daa will once again match every euro raised to ensure that each of the three charities receive a great contribution in 12 months’ time. Let the fundraising commence!”

About daa’s 2026 charities

Cancer Fund for Children

Cancer Fund for Children supports children and young people affected by cancer across the island of Ireland. Their team of Cancer Support Specialists provide emotional, social and therapeutic support in the family home, in hospital and at the charity’s therapeutic short break centre, Daisy Lodge, in Newcastle Co. Down. The charity is currently building a second Daisy Lodge on the shores of Lough Corrib in Cong, Co. Mayo. Due to open in early 2027, this purpose-built facility will provide restorative short breaks to families impacted by cancer when they need it most.

Keeley D Foundation

Keeley D Foundation is a non-profit organisation with the sole aim of providing practical support to families of children and young adults who are receiving palliative cancer care at home.

The charity offers direct support, beginning with financial assistance and extending to practical help such as home cleaning services, family meals, grocery deliveries, and transport support for treatment. Support also includes emotional care, ensuring families have someone available to talk to on difficult days including when they have experienced their child’s passing.

Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust

The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust aims to alleviate the financial hardship faced by bereaved families when repatriating the bodies of loved ones who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances back to Ireland. Support is provided through financial assistance, advice, guidance and logistical support, to help return loved ones’ remains home as quickly as possible. Since 2013, the Trust has repatriated over 2,450 loved ones, from 90 countries worldwide, to all 32 counties of Ireland.

Phil Alexander, CEO of Cancer Fund for Children, said:

Every week across the island of Ireland, approximately 10 children and young people (aged 0-24) are diagnosed with cancer. We work to empower, connect and strengthen these children and their families so they feel equipped to cope with the impact this diagnosis has on their lives. We are so grateful to have been chosen as one of the daa charity partners for 2026. The funds raised through this initiative will help us deliver our vital services and ensure no child has to face cancer alone.

Eimear Brogan, founder of Keeley D Foundation, said:

We are incredibly grateful to the DAA for choosing Keeley D Foundation as one of your charity partners for 2026. This will further enable us to provide vital financial, practical, and emotional support to our children, living with palliative cancer, and the families who walk that journey with them. Thank you to the entire DAA community for standing with us.

Colin Bell, co-founder of Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, said:

We’re delighted to have been selected as a Charity of the Year partner of DAA. Every day, we receive calls from families across Ireland who have been bereaved in tragic circumstances, and we are only in a position to provide assistance thanks to the generous support that we receive from communities and organisations such as DAA. In 2025, we brought 330 loved ones back home to Ireland, and demand for our service is increasing year on year. Thanks to DAA and our other supporters, we will be in a position to continue to provide vital help when it is most needed.

About daa’s Charities of the Year programme

daa’s Charities of the Year programme is an annual initiative that supports selected Irish charities through employee-led fundraising activities and donations.

Each year, daa employees nominate and vote for charities to benefit from a 12‑month fundraising campaign. The programme includes a wide range of fundraising events across Dublin and Cork airports, with all proceeds going directly to the charities.

Since its launch in 2007, the initiative has raised almost €4.7 million, supporting causes across health, social services, and community support.