Limerick boy's Christmas wish? A phone to ring his hurling heroes

Noah Twomey with some of the Limerick hurlers.

A little boy in Limerick has one wish this Christmas — to get a phone so he can keep in touch with his friends and ring his favourite hurlers.

Noah Twomey, aged eight, was diagnosed with leukaemia just before Christmas 2023. As he was undergoing painful treatments, including chemotherapy, he could always count on the Limerick players to support him.

His dad, Robert, said he is hoping Santa will bring him a phone, so he can call his friends.

“It’s his main thing to talk to his friends because he's isolating all the time. My wife overheard him saying in the conversation to some of his friends 'I'm getting a phone for Christmas',” he said.

Last Christmas Eve, the little boy received a visit from his favourite hurler, Kyle Hayes, who popped by the family house to cheer him up.

“That made his Christmas. Darragh and Kyle have been very good to him, a lot of the lads have been very good,” Robert said. “They're always ringing, asking about him.

Noah Twomey (left) with Kyle Hayes who popped by to cheer him up.

After getting a bone marrow transplant from his eldest brother, Noah has been on the mend.

“Since then, we've had a few bumps on the road. He got sick for a while and he was in hospital for a month or so, and back out again and in again with a couple of high temperatures. 

"But, he's been doing really well since about September. The doctors are very happy with him at the moment.” 

Noah’s dad says this year has been a tough year for the family, but a little help sometimes goes a long way.

“During all this, my wife's father passed away in England. She wasn't able to go to the UK because Noah was very sick at the time. 

"The doctors were telling us there was a high chance Noah would've ended up in intensive care, so she had to make a choice just to stay with her sick son or go and see her dad before he died. But her dad told us to stay where she was."

This Christmas, Noah might receive another visit from the players, but it will depend on his health.

This Christmas, Noah might receive another visit from the players, but it will depend on his health.

“It's going to be a very quiet Christmas, because Noah is not allowed outside. He has to isolate. I'm just getting emotional there now, but it’s all depending on his bloods,” Robert said.

“It’s been tough, but all the small things that the lads do for him, just to see him smile, are amazing.”