The Friends of St. Patrick's Hospital & Marymount Hospice, known as "The Friends" are a voluntary group, founded in 1984, who raise funds to enhance the hospital and to benefit the patients. They organise fundraising events themselves and co-ordinate the fundraising events of others in aid of the hospital / hospice. They are affiliated to the Irish Hospice Foundation. They meet in the hospital on the second monday of each month at 7.30p.m..

The Friends have organised an astonishing variety of events over the years, such as Concerts, Race Nights, Open Gardens and Art exhibitions, but their major anual events are "Sunflower Days" and "Irelands Biggest Coffee Morning".

Apart from their ongoing support of the hospital & hospice, The Friends are currently fundraising to build a 44-bed purpose-built hospice. The cost associated with this project will be in the region of €75 million, €12 million of which needs to be raised locally over the next 4 years.