Famous faces unite to launch 'Cormac Trust'

IRISH rugby captain Brian O'Driscoll and Republic of Ireland soccer manager Brian Kerr attended the formal launch in Croke Park yesterday of a fundraising trust to honour the memory of the late Cormac McAnallen.

Joining his parents, GAA officials and Tyrone's All-Ireland-winning captain Peter Canavan, the pair gave their full support to a fundraising banquet planned for February and welcomed the setting up of the trust, which will play an important role in the prevention of heart conditions like that from which McAnallen died at the beginning of March last year.

On February 22, he lifted the Dr McKenna Cup as the new captain of the Tyrone team, but nine days later he died from a rare heart condition.

Yesterday's launch was designed to generate initial funding for the banquet on February 4, in the Armagh City Hotel. This is being undertaken by Club Tyrone, the commercial wing of the Tyrone County Board.

One of the principal aims of the 'Cormac Trust' is the provision of defibrillators to sporting organisations in Co Tyrone - rugby and soccer as well as GAA - to benefit sports people and the community generally. The trust will also set out to promote and encourage screening to identify and treat such heart conditions.

Brendan McAnallen, Cormac's father, welcomed the efforts of the Tyrone County Committee, Club Tyrone and the sporting personalities in attendance to help start fundraising for the trust set up in Cormac's memory.

His wife spoke of the condition from which Cormac died and her hope that similar deaths could be avoided in the future by preventative screenings, more awareness and the provision of defibrillators.

To book a table for the banquet, go to www.thecormactrust.com

Contributions can be made to an interim account at First Trust Bank, Omagh;

Sort Code: 93-81-30;

Account Number: 658 33406;

Account Name: Coiste Chontae Thir Eoghain.