Golf legend Padraig Harrington visits West Cork teen Féile O'Sullivan in hospital

The golf legend paid a visit to the teenager who suffered life changing injuries in a farming accident

Padraig Harrington visiting west Cork teenager Féile O'Sullivan in hospital. Picture: Padraig Harrington/X

Irish golfing legend Pádraig Harrington has praised the “courageous” West Cork teenager who suffered life changing injuries in a farming accident last year, as he urged people to give support to her and her family.

Féile O’Sullivan lost both legs and suffered other serious injuries in the accident involving a tractor in Allihies last July.

After receiving emergency care locally and at Cork University Hospital, she was then transferred to CHI at Crumlin, and has undergone dozens of surgeries in the wake of the incident.

Féile spent weeks in the intensive care unit in CHI at Crumlin Hospital before moving to a general ward.

Despite what she has been through, the sports-mad teen has remained upbeat with her mother Maureen telling the Irish Examiner at Christmas that her progress has been “like zero to 100” since then.

“Féile has gone from not being able to breathe on her own, not being able to eat on her own, not being able to do anything by herself, not even able to lift up her hand to now she’s able to sit up by herself,” she said.

“We made goals in the ICU, simple goals like she’d be able to hold her bottle to drink out of it, to hold her iPad, and to hold her phone to be able to talk to her friends,” her mother said.

“She’s able to do loads of other bits now, even to move herself around if she’s uncomfortable.” 

In a post on social media on Tuesday, Mr Harington shared a photo of himself with Féile.

“This is Féile, she is 13 and had a life altering farming accident last July,” he said. 

She is very courageous and in great spirits. 

"Her friends and family are raising money for her through:

“1. Golf Outing on 16th/17th/18th of April which is sold out( but I believe hole sponsorship and raffle prizes are still available) 

“2. A school jersey day, Friday March 20th, where kids wear their favourite jersey to school and donate 1 or 2 euro. They are really hoping for schools everywhere to participate in this.” 

He told those who want to support the cause to go to gaacork.ie/stand4feile.