AMID THE BAD news and coronavirus madness, one feel good story really stood out this week.
Munster star Billy Holland and his wife, Lanlih, welcomed their newborn son Matthew into the world after an extremely difficult period.
“He’s our little gift from Emmeline,” Holland has since said, referencing the couple’s daughter who died last year aged just six-months-old.
Billy and Lanlih spoke candidly in an emotional Late Late Show interview with Ryan Tubridy in January, and shared Emmeline’s story.
Born in November 2018, she was diagnosed with a heart defect. She battled through a minor heart surgery at five-months-old, though complications arose days afterwards and she died in her mother’s arms.
Speaking on the Late Late Show, the Hollands highlighted the phenomenal care their baby daughter received at CHI at Crumlin, while donations to the Brave Like Emmeline Holland fundraiser soared past €550,000.
“We’re delighted,” Billy told RTÉ’s Game On last night following the arrival of Matthew.
“Matthew’s really good and he’s our little gift from Emmeline and we are so proud of him.”
“We were blown away by the support,” he added on the reaction to Emmeline’s story and the funds raised there.
“The money raised by the Irish people was phenomenal. Not only that, for us it was the messages of support and the incredible number of families out there that have had variations of our story.
At times like now, and with our experiences of the last 18 months, sport pales by comparison, but we are very proud of what we did and the beautiful legacy of our little Emmeline.
“Her life will have such a positive impact on so many people.”
Munster rugby player @billyholland & his wife Lanlih on the huge support from Crumlin's medical teams for their daughter Emmeline who passed away aged just 6 months. They are fundraising in honour of their brave baby girl: https://t.co/SFCbSzW1eL #BravelikeEmmeline #LateLate pic.twitter.com/aC2mlEyDVR
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) January 24, 2020
Holland, who made his Ireland debut against Canada four years ago, went on to explain why the couple decided to go public about his daughter’s tragic story in a heartfelt interview with Donncha O’Callaghan, Marie Crowe and Ruby Walsh:
“The strength and courage she showed in her six months showed me there was a bigger picture out there.
Me, opening myself up and Irish men are really bad at showing emotion, I just felt we had to. We had to do something to tell people about Emmeline and I wanted people to know about my daughter.
“A by-product of that was to raise money for three charities and show support and solidarity to other parents who are suffering in silence.
“We owed it to Emmeline and her courage to do this.”
RTÉ2fm / SoundCloud
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And United fans still wish Souness was in charge at Liverpool.
There’s a rumour that Souness smiled once. Nasty rumour to spread.
Souness is obsessed with Pogba..
@John Barry: and the 42 are obsessed with Souness’ obsession with Pogba.
Zzzzzz …
Getting sad at this stage
‘Former Liverpool Boss’, ‘Ex Scotland International’, ‘Former Rangers and Newcastle Boss’.
Think you leftout a few lads. what about Previous Galatasary legend, and ex Southampton flop?
@Ardmore02: I think he won trophies at every club he managed except for Newcastle
@padar: you can add torino, benfica and Southampton to that list.
@Ardmore02: I,m old enough to remember him in his pomp playing for Liverpool, great midfielder, tough f….r, similar to Keane at Utd, (but not quiet as good). Some think he is a p…k, but can’t take away what he did as a player.
Here we go and he hasn’t kicked a ball yet. That Souness is some fcukin spa
No utd must keep pogba coz as long as he’s there they’ll win f*** all
@Dan2078: already won trophies with pogba
@Brian Dunne: but have they won the trophies that matter – PL, champions league? And they won’t with Pogba. He is a good player but the prob is he thinks he’s better than he is
@Dan2078: the lad has won a bloody World Cup mate
@IAmTheTruth: he likes playing for France, has good players to carry him. Come back to me when he wins something of merit with utd and you have something insightful to contribute
@Dan2078: where is your cave at?
@Dan2078: Dan your argument is as pathetic as yourself
@mark: why, do u want to call over?
@Ruairi McEntegart: thanks, I love you too
As a utd fan he’s dead right.
.
Reminds me of when Dunphy had a personal vendetta against Cristiano. Calling him a clown and a spoofer every week as Ronaldo struggled yo find consistency. Dunphy labelled Linekar a clown for saying Ronaldo might be the world’s best. The when CR7 won his first Ballon D’Or, Dunphy made some embarrassing comment how he hated CR7 because he’s rich and good looking.
I wonder what Sounness will say when Pogba wins a Ballon D’Or at Madrid? That the reason he hated him all along is because Pogba’s bird is way better than his own?
@Stanley Baggins: souness is no Dunphy; he knows what he’s talking about. Dunphy just made it up as he went (a true spoofer)
@Stanley Baggins: Ballon d’Ope will be the only thing pogba will win
Stfu sourness no utd fan or employee of club gives a crap what u think