Tipperary senior hurlers to play Wexford in Carrick-on-Suir to raise funds for Ryan O'Dwyer appeal

Caption: Ryan O'Dwyer from Ballyrichard, Carrick-on-Suir, who was seriously injured in a car accident last July. The match between Tipperary and Wexford senior hurling teams will raise funds for the Ryan O'Dwyer Road to Recovery GoFundMe appeal. 

Tipperary’s senior hurling team will play Wexford in a charity challenge match in the Swan GAA Club’s Páirc na nEalaí grounds this Saturday, April 8 at 3pm to raise funds for a Carrick-on-Suir man who sustained horrific injuries in a car accident last summer.

The two inter-county teams will be using the match as a preparation for the upcoming All-Ireland championships.

It will be a great opportunity for Tipp GAA fans to see the county’s senior hurling stars in action.

All proceeds from the charity match will go to the Ryan O’Dwyer Road to Recovery GoFundMe appeal.

Ryan from Ballyrichard, Carrick-on-Suir suffered severe spinal injuries in a car accident on the N24 Clonmel to Carrick road at Ballydine, Kilsheelan on July 11 last year while returning home from his work as a postman. He is son of Sean and Helen O’Dwyer and is married to Ali.

Carrick Swan GAA Club has appealed to fans of the Tipperary hurling team to turn out in force to see their county team play on Saturday and support this very worthy cause.

Ryan underwent two brain operations following the accident and is paralysed from the chest down. He spent months in Cork University Hospital before progressing and is now in the Rehabilitation Centre in DunLaoghaire.

The Ryan O’Dwyer Road to Recovery Fund was set up by Ryan’s sister-in-law Marie Holohan and aunt Rita O’Dwyer in October last year to support Ryan and his family with the costs of his medical treatment, rehabilitation therapy and the long-term costs associated with his severe injuries such as adaptation of his home.

Marie Holohan paid tribute to the Swan GAA Club for hosting the match and to Tipperary hurling manager Liam Cahill and his team and the Wexford hurling team and its management for agreeing to play the game.
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he said a lot of Tipperary’s well-known hurling stars will be playing in the match as the team is using it as practice for the championship. It’s expected they will give time to meet with fans after the game.

Marie said Ryan has been undergoing rehab at the National Rehabilitation Centre since February and is very positive in his outlook. He is getting lots of visits from friends and family, which is keeping him going, she pointed out.

Marie said entry to the match is free. There will be Ryan O’Dwyer Road to Recovery donation buckets at the grounds but there won’t be bank card facilities available on the day.

The upcoming annual Clonmel Vintage Car Run on the May Bank Holiday Weekend will be in aid of the Ryan O’Dwyer Fund.

A classic Saab 9-3 convertible car is being raffled for the cause at the vintage car run and will be on display at Páirc na nEalaí on Saturday. Tickets for the raffle will also be on sale at the match.

Marie said a colleague of Ryan’s in An Post is also bringing out a charity CD in aid of his recovery fund.
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he said Ryan and his family wish to thank all who have organised fundraisers for the campaign and all who have so generously supported it to date.

Details about the Ryan O’Dwyer Road to Recovery GoFundMe page and how to donate to it are available on: https://www.gofundme.com/
f/ryan-o-dwyer.