This week the hospice said it was having to cut a number of bed places due to a bleak financial outlook.

More than 2,500 people ed to take part in the Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice

The former RTÉ correspondent, who was diagnosed with MND, has urged people to hospices across the country.

The 58-year-old spent nearly two hours speaking with patients, family and staff.

The president travelled to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice and Palliative Care Centre on Friday.

Catherine Mulkerrin says many people do not want to die on the mainland.

The Hollywood star ed hospice hosts and volunteers at Bewley’s cafe on Grafton Street, Dublin.