Hurling fans urged to support special fund

HURLING fans heading for Waterford’s Walsh Park on Sunday for the long-awaited clash of the ash between the Deise and the Tribes are being urged to dig deep for a very worthy appeal.

Waterford and Galway fans are expected to rally in a further collection for the three surviving O’Regan children who lost their parents and baby sister in an accidental fire at their home.

The collection takes place on the approach roads to the GAA grounds prior to the key championship clash and it is hoped the public will donate generously.

News of the fundraiser and information about the appeal has already been spread throughout Galway through local radio stations and the print media.

Key figures in the local sports, media, political and theatre worlds have pledged their support and many of them will be donning high-visibility jackets and taking to the streets with buckets on the day.

“The game is going to be a tremendous sporting event and we want to channel that positive energy so that hurling fans can support the three O’Regan children who survived the tragic fire,” a spokesperson for the organisers said.

“The response has been fantastic. It’s particularly heartening to see the willingness of sports journalists in Waterford, Galway and nationally, to support our efforts,” he added.

“The O’Regan family’s connection with and love for hurling is well-known. This fixture in Walsh Park is a tremendous opportunity for hurling people to get behind the family at a very difficult time.”

Money raised will be lodged into the special appeal account at Bank Of Ireland Lisduggan, which will remain open until mid-July.

It’s now over three weeks since the fire at 7 Ardmore Terrace claimed the lives of Bryan O’Regan, aged 31, his wife Johanna, also 31, and their 21-month-old daughter Niamh.

The couple’s three surviving children Cian, aged 10, Brianna, seven, and Aaron, five, are being looked after by Bryan O’Regan’s parents, Pa and Joan, who live at Roanmore Terrace.

The special appeal fund goes towards the care and education of the three surviving children.

A Dublin businessman made an anonymous €20,000 donation and members of the public continue to dig deep.

* Donations can be made through any Bank of Ireland branch. The account number is 40559976 and the sort code is 906216.