West Cork girl who lost both legs in farm accident has two more surgeries

The ‘Stand 4 Feile’ campaign continues on Sunday with a tractor run and the harvesting of the oats near the village of Allihies, with the oats being auctioned

Féile O'Sullivan is counting each procedure as a step closer to home.

A girl who lost both legs in a horrific farm accident in West Cork had two more surgeries this week and is counting each procedure as a step closer to home, the fundraising committee supporting her family said.

More than €546,000 has now been raised for Féile O’Sullivan, aged 13, some seven weeks after her accident in Allihies.

“Her inpatient chart could rival the size of an encyclopaedia, Féile continues to amaze everyone around her. As one of her doctors said ‘She never complains and is always so grateful, counting each surgery as one less to endure and one step closer to home',” committee member Finbarr Harrington told the Irish Examiner on Thursday.

The four-person committee is in close contact with Féile’s mother Maureen. She keeps vigil by her daughter’s side in Crumlin children’s hospital in Dublin.

“Féile’s spirit is remarkable,” he said. “Her optimism, her gratitude, and her will to keep moving forward are nothing short of inspiring.” 

The Stand for Féile campaign continues on GoFundMe with events and online video call-outs coming in from around the world.

Helen O'Sullivan: 'People are being amazing, it’s amazing what they’re done. The community is very close in Beara.' Photo: Noel Sweeney

On Sunday, a vintage 1972-era combine harvester will work a field of oats near the village of Allihies, with the oats being auctioned for the campaign. 

Co-organiser of this event Helen O’Sullivan, a farmer herself locally, said: “it’s just a shame really what’s happened” to the young girl.

“I’d say we’re probably going to make history, I don’t think combine harvesters would have gone beyond Bantry really and truly before,” she said.

She explained this is down to the rocky soil found in many areas although land is being reclaimed now. 

“It was my friend’s idea, James Swanton, they set the oats there last year. He owns a vintage combine and they thought it would be great to go to Allihies where there was never a combine before,” she said.

“Then unfortunately this happened to Féile, James came up with the idea then to hold a fundraiser.”

The combine is being driven on Saturday from Bantry to Castletownbere, and on to Allihies on Sunday. A vintage tractor run is also part of the event with cars and trucks also expected to join in.

“I’ll go ahead of him on the road because it’s a wide load,” she said.

Kids at last week's Passage West Kellogg’s Cúl Camp stand together on the pitch to show their support for the 'Stand for Féile' fundraising campaign. File picture: Chani Anderson

“We’re hopefully expecting a big crowd. People are being amazing, it’s amazing what they’re done. The community is very close in Beara.” 

Ms O’Sullivan, a co-founder and former member of Farmers’ Alliance, echoed the committee’s support for Féile and called on people to attend if they can.

“It’s a lovely place, just beautiful,” she said. “Féile’s house is only right across the water from where the field is being cut.” 

The tractor run starts at 1pm and the harvesting of the oats at 3pm. All proceeds from a food truck sale will also be donated with local fishermen and butchers having chipped in with supplies.