Massive public response to fundraising campaign for Carrick-on-Suir man seriously injured in car accident

Ryan O'Dwyer from Ballyrichard, Carrick-on-Suir, who was seriously injured in a car accident in July. 

The committee fundraising for a Carrick-on-Suir man seriously injured in a traffic accident in July is overwhelmed by the massive public response to its recent benefit night and soccer tournament and says more events for the cause are now planned before and after Christmas.

Card nights in Lisronagh and Fethard Ballroom and a non-uniform day at Clonmel High School are among the pre-Christmas fundraisers being organised for the Ryan O’Dwyer Road to Recovery campaign.

The students of Patrician Presentation Secondary School organised a monster table quiz in their school last Thursday night, which attracted a huge turnout, while a music benefit night in O’Ceallachain’s Pub in Carrick-on-Suir is planned in the New Year.

39-year-old Ryan, a postman, from Ballyrichard, Carrick-on-Suir, suffered horrific injuries in a car accident on the N24 at Ballydine, Kilsheelan on July 11.

He underwent two brain operations following the accident while the severe spinal injuries he sustained have left him paralysed from the chest down.

He is currently a patient of Cork University Hospital where his beloved wife Ali and parents Sean and Helen are by his side. It’s hoped he will progress to the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire early next year.

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

The Ryan O’Dwyer Road to Recovery Committee said it wished to thank the people and businesses of Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Fethard and communities in their surrounding areas for their huge generosity to date in organising fundraisers, providing sponsorship and donating to the campaign.

The committee’s biggest fundraisers so far were a benefit night at the Carraig Hotel in Carrick-on-Suir and the ROD (Ryan O’Dwyer) 7-a-side Soccer Tournament at the Comeragh Amenity Area all-weather pitch in Rathgormack. 

Both events took place on Saturday, November 26. Carrick-on-Suir’s fire fighters also ran a fundraising car wash for the cause at Carrick Fire Station on the same day.

Marie Holohan said a huge crowd attended the benefit night and the Carraig’s ballroom was packed to capacity for the event. The fundraising centre pieces were a raffle and an auction, which was presided over by Carrick-on-Suir-based Barry Walsh Auctioneers.

English Premiership soccer match tickets, a Cheltenham Racing Festival programme signed by Rachael Blackmore, car valeting and service packages, afternoon tea, beauty and hair packages were among the huge range of donated items that went under the hammer.

Marie said every item in the auction was sold on the night. She thanked everyone who contributed to the fundraiser and all the businesses who donated items for the auction and raffle.

ROD 7-A-Side Soccer Tournament

The ROD 7-a-Side Tournament in Rathgormack earlier that day was also a great success. The organisers and 30 teams that competed didn’t let terrible weather conditions deter them from doing their bit for Ryan, who is a big soccer fan.

The tournament was instigated and organised by a group of people who used to play soccer with Ryan and attracted an estimated 280 soccer players from counties Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny.

Tommy Hearne, one of the tournament organisers, said there was an amazing turn out for the tournament with teams travelling from as far as Waterford City, Dungarvan, Fethard, Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir and Grangemockler to compete. Soccer and GAA players from Rathgormack also fielded a number of teams.

Pictured above are the overall winners of the soccer tournament, the K-Vent team from Piltown 

The overall winners of the tournament trophy were the K-Vent Ltd. team from Piltown, named after their sponsor. They defeated Lisadobber in the final following a penalty shoot out.

The Killusty soccer team beat Brophy Transport to win the shield final, which was played between the losing semi-finalists.

Ben Grace from the K-Vent team and Jack Lyons, goalkeeper with the Lisadobber team won Players of the Tournament awards.

A cheque for €7,862 raised from the soccer tournament was presented to the Ryan O’Dwyer Road to Recovery Committee at the benefit night later. Tommy said they received more money in the days after the tournament and the amount raised by the event has now surpassed €8,000

He paid tribute to all who helped to organise the tournament with him, particularly Davy Morton, Ger Foster of Box Creatives and John Hahesy as well as Tony Bolger of the Rathgormack/Clonea Comeragh Amenity Area Committee. 

He also  thanked Brian Roche, along with Barry and Michael Sweetman of Fuzz’d Up in Clonmel, who sponsored the trophy prizes and John Loftus, who did the photography and video work for the tournament.

And he thanked all the businesses that sponsored teams for the tournament, the soccer players who took part in the competition, the volunteers who helped out on the day and the people of Rathgormack for their hospitality. 

He also gave a special mention to the six referees who gave sterling service in bad weather conditions throughout the tournament.

Due to the success of the event, Tommy said they hope to run the ROD 7-A-Side soccer tournament again possibly next summer.

Pictured above are the Lisadobber soccer team, the runners up in the ROD 7-A-Side Soccer Tournament. 

Meanwhile, the Ryan O’Dwyer GoFundMe page continues to be open to donations.

“All the money raised will greatly help Ryan’s rehabilitation,” said Marie Holohan. 

“We can’t thank everyone enough. The outpouring of generosity from the community has been greatly appreciated.”