Heffernan backs Fight for Sight campaign

JAMES HEFFERNAN can never play contact sports again. He lost his right eye two years ago when he was accidentally hit in the face with a hurley during a club game.

Heffernan, who turns 21 this month, is campaigning to highlight the dangers of not wearing helmets and face guards during hurling games.

The Mullingar man was wearing a helmet at the time of his accident but it was not fitted with a face guard.

He was playing with his local club St Oliver Plunkett's at the time. The former carpenter was trying to hook an opposing player when he received a blow to the face.

Since the accident on May 17, 2001, he's been fitted with a semi-artificial eye and is awaiting an implant to make it look more real.

"Thankfully, it has not affected my confidence too much. But smoke is very hard on the eye. Being in pubs is very uncomfortable at times. The eye also weeps a bit. I had to start wearing glasses after the accident to prolong the vision in my good eye.

"I find my eye gets very tired in the evening time and I've now had to give up all contact sports. And I had to give up carpentry it just wouldn't be safe. My coordination wouldn't have been great on roofs, for example, with just one eye.

"I've now qualified as a fitness instructor and sports therapist and am coaching youths teams. I was working with a youths team last April and a few of the young fellas were complaining that it was too hot to wear their helmets. I took out my eye and showed them what happened to me. Not one of them complained about wearing helmets after that."

Heffernan has thrown his weight behind a campaign launched by the Waterford-based Fight for Sight charity to insist all players wear helmets, with protective face guards.

"Some fellas find helmets too hot, too uncomfortable. But there's nothing more uncomfortable than having your eyeball split down the middle and being left on the flat of your back," he said.

Helmets and face masks should be compulsory at all levels and no player should be allowed on a pitch without one, he insists. "If you play soccer, you have to have shin guards. Yet anyone can go on a hurling pitch without a helmet. I'm a lot more conscious since my accident of fellas with scars, cuts and damage to their eyes. I'm hoping the GAA will follow my lead and will take on this campaign."

Heffernan had player insurance which covered his medical expenses. But nothing will ever bring back the sight in his eye.