GAA legends back 'Stand for Féile' fundraiser for West Cork girl who lost both legs in farm accident
Thirteen-year-old Féile O'Sullivan, from Allihies on the Beara Peninsula, remains in hospital following the life-altering accident in early July. She suffered severe lower abdominal injuries and has undergone several operations, including the amputation of both legs.
At the start of this month, with her family's support, a local committee led by Garnish GAA set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Féile's rehabilitation in the weeks and months ahead. Remarkably, at the time of writing, the "Stand for Féile" page has raised €421,000 from more than 6,500 donations.
A number of GAA stars have also supported the cause, including Cork senior hurlers Alan Connolly, Rob Downey, Patrick Horgan, and Seán O'Donoghue, as well as All-Ireland winner with Tipp, Darragh Stakelum.
Some legends of the game have recorded videos of support, including Clare's Anthony Daly and Waterford's John Mullane.
Dozens of GAA clubs across Cork, Munster, and beyond have also shared messages of solidarity.
You can watch some of the messages of support from GAA stars, past and present, below:
The Stand for Féile organisers said anyone lucky enough to know her will tell you "how full of life, energy, fun, kindness and what a pure messer she is".
"She adores dogs and horses. Farming is in her blood, and she loves everything about nature, outdoors, staying active - She's also a true sports star — whether football, soccer, gymnastics, or anything involving movement and fun, Féile is always giving it her all, with a smile and a sparkle in her eyes."
They said the accident hasn't changed who she is — only what she now needs.
"Her entire family is heartbroken. So is her amazing community, determined to stay strong and support Féile. The emotional and financial toll is enormous. That's why we're reaching out — to ask you to support our incredible girl through her hardest times," the campaign team wrote on the fundraising page.
"Every donation — big or small — will go directly towards Féile's care — medical treatment, specialist equipment, home adaptations, all support she'll need now and in the years to come. Even a supportive message or sharing this page can mean the world."
• You can donate to the Stand for Féile fundraiser by clicking here/url].
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Half the country away: How Munster fans can get to Croke Park Oasis gig as Irish Rail puts on extra trains
Oasis will grace an Irish stage for the first time in 17 years this weekend, finally fulfilling the hopes of tens of thousands of fans that the most famous rift in rock would somehow be healed. Tickets for Oasis's Croke Park gigs this Saturday, August 16, and Sunday, August 17, sold out in minutes last August, and some 160,000 rock 'n' roll fans from across Ireland and further afield are expected to pack out the home of the GAA over the two nights. Doors open at 5pm, with the first support act — Verve front man Richard Ashcroft — due on stage at about 6pm. Once his set concludes, Liverpool rockers Cast will take to the stage. If Oasis's previous gigs on this tour are anything to go by, Liam and Noel Gallagher, Gem Archer, Andy Bell, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, and drummer Joey Waronker should begin their approximately two-hour set about 8.15pm. Dublin is sure to be extremely busy in the run-up to and aftermath of both gigs, so fans, particularly those travelling into the capital by train from other parts of the country, have been advised to plan their journeys in advance. Iarnród Éireann will be running additional services both nights. These are: 07.45am Cork to Dublin Heuston (Sunday only); 8am Cork to Mallow will operate to Dublin Heuston (Saturday only); 10.15am Waterford to Dublin Heuston (Saturday only); 10.45am Waterford to Dublin Heuston (Sunday only); 23.59pm Dublin Connolly to Belfast (both nights); 12.30am Heuston to Galway* (Saturday night only); 12.40am Heuston to Cork* with connection to Limerick Colbert (both nights). The final two trains on this list will appear on Iarnród Éireann's Journey Planner for the following day, ie the 12.40am services will appear on the schedule for Sunday, August 17, and Monday, August 18, respectively. A spokesperson for the company said intercity trains were likely to sell out "very quickly", and tickets would not be available at stations on the day. Indeed, at time of writing, the 8am, 9.25am, 10.25am, 11.25am, and 12.25pm trains from Cork (Kent) to Dublin (Heuston) this Saturday are sold out, though there are still some spots available on the 1.25pm, 2.25pm and 3.25pm services. The 12.40am service from Dublin back to Cork in the early hours on Sunday morning is also almost at capacity. It's a similar picture for Sunday, with the 8.25am, 10.25am, 12.25pm, 12.50pm, and 2.50pm services from Kent to Heuston fully booked at time of writing. There is some availability on the 2.25pm and 3.25pm services, however. A small number of tickets are also still available on the 12.40am service from Heuston to Kent on Monday, August 18 also.
RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Aylward: All-Ireland camogie final referee got big calls right
All-Ireland camogie final Justin Heffernan got the big calls right and tried his best to allow for a free-flowing encounter, according to RTÉ analyst Elaine Aylward. Galway prevailed by the bare minimum at Croke Park on Sunday to deny Cork three in a row, Carrie Dolan's late free from distance the difference between the teams at the death. After the game Rebels manager Ger Manley hit out at the official's handling of the game, describing the performance as "shocking". Manley insisted the first-half sending off of Hannah Looney was "harsh", was unhappy that a clear push on the back of goalkeeper Amy Lee, which resulted in a Galway point, was missed and also disputed Dolan's match-winning free. Speaking on the RTÉ GAA podcast, former Kilkenny player Aylward conceded that the push on Lee was a "no-brainer", but the other two big calls were correct. The 2009 All-Star highlighted a couple of instances where the Tribes were denied a couple of frees themselves and that over the course of 64 minutes, it was a fair performance by Heffernan. "In a one-point game, you are always going to look back on the obvious ones, ones that could have gone either way, but over the course of the full hour, I think he got the big calls right," she said. Also speaking on the podcast was four-time All-Ireland winner with Wexford Ursula Jacob. She agreed that the referee had a good game overall, and given the free-dominated finals of 2017 and 2018 involving Cork and Kilkenny, there was an effort on Heffernan's part to avoid a game dominated by placed balls. "I understand the frustration from Cork and Ger Manley," she said. "Galway were probably aggrieved last year with a goal that was very lucky – it probably wasn't a clearcut handpass - I think Justin was trying to allow a free-flowing game. "I'd hate if we were here talking about a game that was all frees."
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Kerry GAA icon wants ‘boring' All-Ireland final tradition ditched in favour of US-inspired alternative
Pat Spillane's biggest irritant may be an unpopular opinion among GAA fans 'SCRAP IT' Kerry GAA icon wants 'boring' All-Ireland final tradition ditched in favour of US-inspired alternative THE whole off the field spectacle of an All-Ireland final has been slated by a Kerry GAA icon. Pat Spillane is not impressed with the GAA's efforts - or lack of effort - in building hype and excitement for finals. Advertisement 2 Spillane's Kerry were the most recent champions of the Sam Maguire Cup 2 The 69-year-old is unhappy with the GAA's efforts around All-Ireland final day The eight-time Sam Maguire Cup winner might know a thing or ten about All-Ireland final day. Spillane compares the occasion to the off-the-field thrill and excitement the NFL will bring to Dublin next month. The Pitsburgh Steelers are playing the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland's first ever NFL match in Croke Park and Spillane believes the NFL will make a tremendous effort to create a great atmosphere and buzz for the event. When writing in his Irish Independent column, the nine-time All-star wrote: 'Surely for the biggest day in the Gaelic football calendar, the GAA could do better?' Advertisement 'America's NFL will be here in a couple of months. They're going to take over Dublin for the week. "They're going to have street parties. They're going to have fan zones. They're going to have marching bands. 'Surely to God, when it comes to the All-Ireland senior football final and the All-Ireland senior hurling final, the GAA could up its game? Instead, it's a box-ticking exercise. They're going through the motions. 'As for the pre-match entertainment. Surely to God we can do better than wheeling out the Scór winners from a couple of counties? Advertisement 'Having the presentation of the jubilee team in front of a couple of thousand people is an embarrassment and an insult. Half-time entertainment leaves much to be desired." While Spillane has plenty of complaints of the match day experience, he singles out one irritant which particularly bores him. 'We air our dirty laundry' - RTE pundit doesn't pull any punches in cutting verdict of Mayo GAA county board The former RTÉ pundit added: 'And that brings me to the speeches. Speeches in total at the All-Ireland senior football final took nine minutes. Too much – just hand over the cup. Because nowadays, the speeches are scripted. "Speeches in total at the All-Ireland senior football final took nine minutes. Too much – just hand over the cup. Because nowadays, the speeches are scripted." Advertisement There have been a number of iconic All-Ireland acceptance speeches over the years. From Anthony Daly's 'there's been a missing person in Clare for 81 long years' speech in 1995 to Donegal's Anthony Molloy 1992 speech - 'Sam's for the hills.' There's been some great moments. But recently speeches have been brandished samey, boring or repetitive by a lot of spectators. On many occasions it has been just a very long thanking session from both the GAA president and the winning captain with nothing particularly notable being said. Advertisement Spillane blasted: "They're scripted by the GAA president. They're scripted for the captain. They're boring. They're repetitive. You have to thank everyone in the audience. "Let's scrap the speeches, hand over the cup and celebrate. The GAA can do it."
