However, yesterday afternoon Munster's Donncha O'Callaghan, Denis Leamy, Ronan O'Gara and Tomas O'Leary along with their Irish colleagues Tommy Bowe and Geordan Murphy brought smiles to the eyes of children and staff at the Children's University Hospital Temple Street when they visited in the early afternoon.

The players were greeted on arrival by Nurse Roisin Farrelly  from St. Michael's C Ward and Head Porter John Doyle while the familiar face to the players was that of Fund Raising Events Manager Susan O'Driscoll, sister of Ireland captain, Brian. Also on hand was Susan's colleague, Senior Fundraising Co-ordinator Michelle McGoldrick and the Director of the Fund Raising Board Ann Ryan.

The Fund Raising Office, established in 2000, seeks to raise awareness and fundraising for projects within the Children's University Hospital Temple Street. Since its incorporation thanks to the hard work of Ryan's Fund Raising Board and dedication of the likes of O'Driscoll and McGoldrick, ¬20 million has been raised for a variety of specialist equipment, infrastructure works and  research projects.

This can-do attitude allowed ¬1.25 million to be spent in 2005 on the re-development of the Renal Unit while a further half million (¬2 million) saw the completion of a new ICU Unit at the hospital.

 The players visited St. Gabriels, St. Michael's B, Top Flat and St. Philomena's Wards, signed photographs, match programmes and had their photographs taken with children and staff. They were visibly moved by the care and attention of an obviously devoted staff and the cheerful attitude of the children themselves despite their illness. "Inspirational," was the word Ronan O'Gara used when asked to sum up the experience, "We have no idea how lucky we are. The people here, doctors nurses, the children, they're the heroes of this world, not fellas like us."