This week marks Make-A-Wish Ireland’s annual fundraising week, which raises money to grant life-changing wishes to children facing critical illnesses nationwide.

Since 1992, Make-A-Wish Ireland has granted wishes for more than 3,350 children across Ireland, including 214 wishes granted in 2024 alone.

For this year’s Wish Week, Tanya Monaghan joined Newstalk Breakfast to tell of the impact that the charity had on her family when her daughter Beth’s wish to go to a Taylor Swift concert was granted last year.

“Beth is 14-years of age, and she has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism, among a few other illnesses and disabilities that she lives with every day,” she said.

“She was a premature baby, she was born at 31 weeks, and she spent two nights at home when we got her home originally.

“She then ended up in Temple Street in the ICU for about six weeks with a serious condition called RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which premature babies can get.

“From that, we then found out about a year later that she had lifelong disabilities.”

Ms Monaghan said that Beth needs help with every aspect of her daily life as a result of her disabilities.

Beth and her mam Tanya Monaghan at the Eras Tour. Image: Provided.

Like many other girls her age, Beth is also a massive fan of the international pop star Taylor Swift.

“She’s mad, her bedroom is all done up now – everything Taylor Swift just is her happy, safe place,” said Ms Monaghan.

“Really and truly, for a child that has autism as well, she becomes consumed with things that she likes and it’s all about them.”

Beth spent five weeks in the hospital last year, during which time her parents filled out her Make-A-Wish booklet and, two weeks before the concert, her wish was granted.

“It was very hard to try and not tell her,” Ms Monaghan said.

“We eventually told her a week before the concert, because with Beth having autism, things need to be laid out, she needs to know what’s happening.

“So, we had to do like a visual story for her, but you know what, she just kept putting her hands up to her mouth; ‘I don’t believe this, I don’t believe this’.

“Then when her box arrived with the balloon in it and it popped up and it says, ‘Beth, your wish to go see the Eras Tour has been granted’ - like, amazing.”

Beth and her mam Tanya Monaghan at the Eras Tour. Image: Provided.

According to Ms Monaghan, Beth had "the best day of her life" at the concert.

“When we went, even though she was in her wheelchair for the day, she got out of it when we were in the box,” she said.

“It was just, to see her living like a normal teenager, enjoying things with no stress, no discomfort, it was just her face singing along, dancing along.

“When Taylor Swift first came out, she was stunned, and all the other kids that were in the box got their wish granted as well were the same - they were crying, so were we, the mammies.”

Ms Monaghan said the experience was “a beautiful, bright day in a horrible, gloomy year”.

To donate to Make-A-Wish Ireland, you can visit www.makeawish.ie.

Main image: Beth and her mam Tanya Monaghan at the Eras Tour. Image: Provided.