Saoirse Ruane’s family marked what would have been her 13th birthday over the weekend, almost one year after her passing.
The Toy Show star, who inspired the nation when she appeared on the programme in 2020, passed away in March 2024 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
The Galway native would have turned 13 on Sunday, and her family marked the day by releasing 13 blue and gold balloons “up to heaven” at her grave site.
Saoirse’s mum Roseanna shared a video of the emotional occasion on Instagram, alongside a heart wrenching caption.
She wrote: “There are no words for today. It was every emotion you could think of.”
“We talked for weeks about what we should do not being able to come up with anything solid and in the end it was what it was meant to be, what we were able for.
“We visited you to greet you good morning and Happy Birthday before coming home again to sit with your loss. We returned again in the afternoon with Willow,” she wrote, referencing their beloved family dog.

“We sent 13 balloons up to heaven and we hope you got them all. Farrah Rose is so excited picturing you on the receiving end with that massive smile and giggle.
“Then we decided we would go somewhere for dinner, somewhere we always feel welcome comfortable and safe! We feel so wronged today 🥹,” she told followers, before adding, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY PUDSY 😘 we miss you more with each passing day!”
Saoirse’s appearance on the Toy Show in 2020 came a few months after she had her right leg amputated.
Her leg had been affected by osteosarcoma – a rare form of cancer that affected her tibia.

Saoirse inspired the launch of the official RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, which has raised over €21 million for children’s charities to date.
Last year, RTÉ paid tribute to Saoirse by announcing a grant award of up to €150,000 would be made in Saoirse’s name to a chosen charity.
The Galway native passed away on March 5th, 2024 after a long battle with various health struggles since her original diagnosis of cancer.