Soccer tournament and benefit night to raise funds for Carrick-on-Suir man seriously injured in traffic accident

A seven-a-side soccer tournament and major benefit night with tickets to Premiership matches up for auction on Saturday, November 26 will raise funds for Ryan O’Dwyer from Carrick-on-Suir who suffered horrific injuries in a traffic accident in July.

More than 30 teams from counties Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny are expected to compete in the Ryan O’Dwyer Road to Recovery fundraising campaign’s Rod-7-a-side Soccer Tournament at Rathgormack’s astro-turf pitch that day.

The tournament will be followed by a benefit night for the cause featuring music entertainment, food, a monster raffle and auction at The Carraig Hotel in Carrick-on-Suir at 8pm that night.

The Ryan O’Dwyer Road to Recovery GoFundMe campaign was set up by Ryan’s sister-in-law Marie Holohan and aunt Rita O’Dwyer in early October.

The fund’s proceeds will support Ryan and his family with the costs of his medical treatment, rehabilitation therapy and the long-term costs associated with the injuries he suffered in the traffic accident on the N24 at Ballydine, Kilsheelan on July 11.

Ryan from Ballyrichard, Carrick-on-Suir, has been a patient at Cork University Hospital since the accident, which occurred while he was travelling home from his work as a postman with An Post. Following the accident, Ryan underwent two brain operations while the severe spinal injuries he suffered have left him paralysed from the chest down.

He is slowly making progress at CUH with his beloved wife Ali and parents Sean and Helen at this side.

Marie Holohan said there has been a huge response to the seven-a-side tournament and benefit night with about 30 teams expected to take part in the soccer competition and a lot of tickets sold already for the benefit night and very generous donations of prizes and items for the raffle and auction.

“We want to send a huge thank you to everybody working so hard to organise these two events and also those who are running other fundraisers for the Ryan O’Dwyer Road to Recovery campaign.
“People are just so good,” she said.

One of the benefit night highlights will be the auction, which will be presided over by Carrick-on-Suir-based Barry Walsh Auctioneers.

Three Manchester United match tickets and two tickets to a Liverpool versus Manchester City match are among the coveted items that will go under the hammer.

Also up for auction will be a Cheltenham Racing programme from the day Rachael Blackmore won the festival’s famous Champion Hurdle race and a photo of Rachael both autographed by her.

For men there will be car valeting and service packages to bid on with afternoon tea, beauty and hair packages in the auction for women.

Tickets for the benefit night’s raffle cost €10 and are available from organising committee members and will be on sale at the event. Entrance tickets for the benefit night also cost €10 and will be available at the door.

The Rod-7-a-Side soccer tournament kicks off at 9.30am on November 26.

Families are welcome to watch the matches and there is a children’s playground at Comeragh Amenity Area in Rathgormack where the all-weather pitch is located.

A cup and shield will be awarded to the winning teams.

It costs €10 to enter a player and up to 10 players are allowed per team. For more information on the tournament contact: rod7aside@gmail.com.

Another Ryan O’Dwyer Road to Recovery fundraiser takes place in Ballyneale Community Hall this Friday, November 18 at 8pm.

It’s a night of musical entertainment featuring performances from Purple Roses, Neill Bourke, Aishling and Saoirse Cummins and Liam Dwyer.

Tickets cost €10 and are on sale at the Tudor Artisan Hub, Carrick at (051) 640921 or from Jane’s Montessori, Ballyneale at (085) 1365 827.