'Saoirse really is such a happy child, she’s rarely ever down, she's very inspiring'

Little four year old Saoirse Fearon lit up the town of Kells last month when she was invited on stage to join Miss Ireland and Santa Claus to switch on the town's Christmas lights. Saoirse was presented with her own princess crown, making her an Honorary Miss Ireland and her smile lit up the town even further.

The community cheered on Saoirse while she was on stage, displaying the care and love they have shown the Fearon family since parents of bubbly and outgoing Saoirse, Jonathan and Laura Fearon, noticed that something wasn’t quite right back in 2024, leading to a life-changing discovery for both Saoirse and mum Laura.

Despite having to go to more than one health professional for answers, Jonathan and Laura Fearon’s intuition was unfortunately correct, and they had a long and emotional journey ahead of them, which is still ongoing for the family.

Little Saoirse is fighting something that the majority of people will never have to face in their lifetime. She is battling a rare and aggressive childhood cancer called Adrenocortical Carcinoma, also known as ACC. Saoirse was first diagnosed back in September 2024, just after her third birthday in July, and went on to have surgery to remove a tumor in October of the same year.

Parents Jonathan, who is originally from Newry, and Laura, from Ratoath, first became concerned when they noticed that Saoirse’s hair wasn’t growing as fast as it should be for a child of her age and that it would quickly become greasy after bathing. Her appetite was also insatiable for a little girl of her petite size.

Hair also began growing on Saoirse’s body that wasn’t there before. After a GP visit told the worried parents that there was no cause for concern, Jonathan and Laura still weren’t happy with the lack of answers about their daughter.

A while after Jonathan and Laura had their second baby, a little boy named Tadhg, who is just under two years old now, they decided to bring Saoirse for a second opinion. Saoirse was sent to Temple Street Children’s Hospital for an ultrasound, and under further investigation, it was discovered that Saoirse had a rare cancer that only affects one in every six million people.

Due to the nature of the tumour that Saoirse had, a higher amount of testosterone was being produced in her body, causing the symptoms that Jonathan and Laura had noticed.

After this, Saoirse got genetically tested, discovering that she had a syndrome called Li–Fraumeni Syndrome. This means that Saoirse has a gene deficiency and is lacking in the gene that fights off cancer. It also means that Saoirse was almost guaranteed to get one or more cancers throughout her life.

Due to this, the entire Fearon family decided to get tested. All turned out to be clear apart from Laura, Saoirse’s mother, who discovered that she was also lacking in this particular gene.

After Saoirse’s first tumour was removed in 2024, there was nine months of testing and Saoirse taking her medicines, with Jonathan and Laura waiting patiently to hear back. When Saoirse went to get a routine test in June of 2025, just a month before her fourth birthday, the family received the devastating news that the tumor was back. Saoirse then immediately started chemotherapy the day after her fourth birthday.

Mum Laura then went for a mammogram, and it was discovered that she had breast cancer, just three months after Saoirse's cancer had come back, when she was just 34 years old. In a stroke of luck, Laura had caught the cancer in its early stages, and bravely went on to get a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

Saoirse is bravely going through chemotherapy, alongside her mum Laura, and got her second tumor removed in October 2025, which she is recovering very well from. The surgery had to be postponed while Laura underwent her double mastectomy for breast cancer, leaving Jonathan to keep the family afloat for the time being.

Despite Saoirse’s specific illness lacking an internal community due to the rareness of the disease, dad Jonathan explained how the family would not have been able to do it all without the people in their lives and in their local community lending a helping hand and supporting them.

“The community in Kells have been absolutely brilliant. They really have rallied around us, from the creche Saoirse goes to, to Saoirse's friends' parents, to my mother and Laura’s mother helping out with Tadhg, everyone has been so helpful.

The team in Crumlin Children’s hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda are just incredible, too. They are complete miracle workers. Saoirse has built such great relationships with some of the staff and runs into their arms when she sees them.”

While the family tries their best to remain positive, Jonathan explains that Saoirse’s illness comes with future anxieties. She will be on a specific chemotherapy drug and hormone replacements for the rest of her life, which will cause fertility issues when she is older.

Despite all of what Saoirse has been through, she manages to remain the most positive and happy little girl you could ever meet. When she is not playing with her friends at creche, she can be found taking part in her dance classes on the weekends.

She greets familiar hospital staff with open arms and a big hug and a smile that can never be wiped from her face, inheriting the same resilience that her mother Laura has shown through her own battle.

When Saoirse is in for her chemo treatment, she keeps herself entertained by playing and creating, taking part in painting and different crafts. She also loves dressing up as different princesses and playing in the garden. She never wants to sit still and is bursting with imagination and creativity.

Saoirse’s dad Jonathan said: “Saoirse is due to start school in September when she’s five and she’s so excited. She can’t wait. She has friends in her creche that ended up going to school this year, so she’ll get to be with them again next year.

“From being around adults all the time, it’s like having a little adult with you. The things she comes out with sometimes are so ahead of her years. She dotes on her little brother Tadhg. She really is such a happy little girl and she’s rarely ever down, which is very inspiring.

“We’re trying to keep life as normal as possible for Saoirse. We had the conversation with her at the beginning and we told her it was a little pea in her belly that made her unwell, but eventually we just had the conversation with her to explain what is happening and explain what cancer is, to the best a four year old can understand.”

Jonathan told how Saoirse’s bravery and positivity has helped mum Laura get through her own diagnosis, and how Saoirse continues to inspire the family and everyone she meets.

“I don’t think Laura would be taking her own treatment for breast cancer in her stride as much if it wasn’t for seeing how brave Saoirse is. It gives her strength and pride to say ‘my little daughter is going through this, too.”

We really just advocate for keeping an eye on your kids. If something doesn’t seem right, get it tested.

We just want to get the message out there of how important it is to keep a check of you and your loved one’s health. GPs are great, but get that second opinion, get a specialist and get to a hospital for genetic testing if you think there is something wrong. Parents know their kids best.”

Despite having worries for the future, Jonathan and Laura remain positive about what could be possible for Saoirse in the coming years.

“Who knows what technology the future holds for Saoirse’s illness. Already in the last five years, we’ve seen so much progress in technology and medicine. Five years ago, children weren’t tested for this gene deficiency. Without that, who knows what position we’d be in, so there is great hope for the future.”

Little Saoirse’s last round of chemo is due just after Christmas this year on 27th December and things are looking up for both her and mum Laura as they both finish up their treatments, but Jonathan explains how the family are not out of the dark yet.

Saoirse’s illness is something that the family will have to be vigilant of for life, and something they will have to explain to Saoirse as she gets older.

“Saoirse won’t be in remission for another five years, so there is no other option than just getting through it. We have to strap ourselves in. This is an emotional rollercoaster and it’s not a quick fix job. I’m still working to keep a bit of normality.

The online fundraisers have been so helpful, from little things you’d never even think of, like getting Saoirse her head scarves or a tablet to watch a movie on while receiving her treatment.

Even getting up and down to Crumlin every two weeks adds up. When Laura got diagnosed, it threw another spanner in the works, too, as now we are a single income household, so every little bit really helps.”

The Fearon’s continue to get Saoirse and Laura’s story out into the world, to spread awareness of the importance of going to the doctor and getting checked if you have any doubts, whether it’s for you or your children.

The family are planning on spending a quiet Christmas at home together in Kells before Saoirse’s final chemotherapy treatment at the end of the month, just after Santa drops off her and her little brother Tadhg’s new toys. She is especially looking forward to receiving a new dollhouse on Christmas morning.

If you wish to donate to the Fearon’s fundraisers for little Saoirse, you can do so by clicking here and you can follow Saoirse’s story along on the Fearon’s Instagram, @saoirsesfight.