Stand for Féile golf classic launched in Kenmare

The official launch of the Stand for Féile Golf Classic took place recently in what will be a bumper few days in April over the county bounds.

Over 100 teams will tee off at Kenmare Golf Club, a three-day fundraiser supporting the ongoing recovery of Féile O’Sullivan.

Last July, Féile’s life changed forever when the young West Cork girl from Allihies suffered devastating injuries in a farming accident.

Since then, she has been receiving specialist treatment in CHI Crumlin, facing surgeries, intensive rehabilitation, and an entirely new way of living.

The emotional and financial strain on her family has been immense, but the response from the GAA community has been powerful.

New Garnish GAA chairman and Cork County Council Councillor Finbarr Harrington, speaking to The Echo at the launch in Kenmare, was heartened by the response to this fundraiser for Féile.

“A huge credit to Barry Coffey and his committee for driving this on,” he said.

“It was a few months before Christmas when he first muted the idea, obviously we support him every way we can, but look, the work that the committee have done is phenomenal. We are extremely grateful to both Cork and Kerry GAA County Boards and their players and ex-players for the support they’ve given us.

“When it gets that kind of traction from especially I suppose the present day footballers and hurlers, it gives the fundraiser and so on a huge traction.

“Huge thanks to Kenmare Golf Club for hosting today’s launch, but also for hosting the main event in April when it’s happening.” 

The golf classic was originally supposed to be a two-day event, but due to demand, a third day was added, April, 16, 17 and 18 is when over 100 teams will take to the fairways.

“I have been involved in different fundraisers and events down through the years and I know from my own experience, you’d be struggling to fill the two days,” Harrington says.

“In this case, the two days filled up nearly instantly, and then later a third day was added. It shows the level of support that’s out there.

“We all know it’s challenging times for people, the cost of living is phenomenal, it’s an everyday event. I see it myself in my own job, I meet people every day struggling, but I suppose the Irish you know we’ve always been known to be decent when it comes to charities and fundraisers.

“People have just been phenomenal in the way that they’ve donated, community groups, sporting clubs and so on. There have been charities donating money, they had fundraisers organised for themselves and gave half of it to the Féile fund. 

"That really shows the human side and the decency of people, and that is really what has made the fund for Féile so successful.

“Cormac McMahon our secretary in Garnish GAA, Ollie Rue O’Sullivan, Liz O’Leary and myself were on a Teams meeting call recently, when this golf classic will conclude in April, we probably are estimating that it will be somewhere in the region of €1.3 million in total towards the ongoing recovery for Féile, which is an incredible amount.”