Irish donations close to a million euro from ice bucket challenge

Irish donations from the ice bucket challenge are set to top €1m.

The Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association says donations following the craze have now passed €900,000.

It says donations are beginning to slow down as the phenomenon reaches its peak, but that it is optimistic of hitting the €1m mark.

The association's CEO, Aisling Farrell, says all the money will be put to good use: "We're going to give 25% of all of the monies raised, directly to research.

"We've also seen a massive increase in the need of our services in the last couple of months, because there have been more people diagnosed.

"So we are going to be able to fill more gaps with the aids and appliances that people need, homecare grants and counselling services."