Over €105,000 raised for Milford Care Centre
Trio lap Tipp GAA pitches in memory of their mother Margaret
By Anna Powell
After running a lap of all 72 GAA Club pitches in Tipperary in extremely wet and windy weather conditions, three brothers from Cloughjordan have raised over €105,000 for Milford Care Centre, in honour of their late mother, Margaret O’Neill.
Speaking to the Nenagh Guardian after they arrived back to their home pitch in Cloughjordan, the O’Neill brothers - Mark, Paul and Eoin - were relieved to have completed their challenge. “We are absolutely relieved is the word,” said Mark. “Delighted to have it done.”
“We have amassed a huge number of donations got from all four corners of Tipperary, which is a credit to everyone,” expressed Mark about the support they received from the public.
Arrival back to their home pitch
The O’Neill brothers received a wonderful amount of support from GAA clubs across the county to run laps of their pitches, even in the adverse weather conditions
On Sunday afternoon, crowds of people gathered at Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA pitch in Cloughjordan to welcome the brothers home on the final stop of their challenge. Alongside members of their community both young and old, the O’Neill brothers were joined by their proud father, Michael, on their final lap.
“Absolutely lost for words,” reacted Eoin to the support they received from their community at their home pitch.
An Honour to do it for their mother
The O’Neill brothers carried out this challenge in memory of their late mother, Margaret O’Neill, who received great care in Milford Care Centre last December before passing away.
“It’s a good cause that its going towards and it’s an honour that we can do it for mammy,” expressed Eoin on behalf of the O’Neill family.
“She would be delighted with what we are giving back to them and for the care she received in Milford. She received care in hospital as well and they were absolutely amazing, but Milford, its all charity-run, they need the money and the way the fundraiser took off is unbelievable,” he expressed.
Support Throughout the Weekend
“I think the support actually got better as the elements got worse, which was a great boost to us. On the morning we went out, there were crowds ready to cheer us on and get in behind us,” he reflected.
The O’Neill brothers greatly appreciated the support they received from Tipperary's GAA clubs to avail of their facilities.
Lap of Semple Stadium
On Saturday, the O’Neill brothers added to their challenge by running a lap of Semple Stadium. On an extremely wet and windy day, the O’Neill brothers appreciated the opportunity to run a lap as a trio in a sheltered environment.
“It made us think about what we were actually doing," explained Eoin
Milford Care Centre
Ian O’Brien, Head of Operations at Milford Care Centre was on hand to cheer the brothers on their final lap at Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA pitch in Cloughjordan on Sunday.
He said: “It’s an absolute privilege to acknowledge the feat of these three young men, in what they have achieved, not only from a fundraising point of view but what they have done for communities across the county of Tipperary."
While also being able to fundraise a substantial sum of money for Milford Care Centre, this challenge also gave the O’Neill brothers a way to grieve their mother.
Mr O'Brien added: “It just goes to show that you can honour the memory of somebody, and not just in your own way but to bring so many communities together on your journey. It’s an incredible testament to your mum and to your mum’s memory,” he said.
Interview with the O'Neill brothers:
The Nenagh Guardian interviewed the O'Neill brothers after they completed their challenge of running a lap of all 72 GAA Club pitches in Tipperary in honour of their mother, Margaret O'Neill.