A KILLARNEY teenager, who is continuing his recovery in a Dublin hospital after a horrific fall last August, was thrilled when a VIP visitor popped in to see him on Christmas Eve to bring him season’s greetings.
Social media sensation Buff Egan, who has tens of thousands of followers on his mainly GAA online site, called to the Mater Hospital in Dublin to visit Ian O’Connell, a 16-year-old from Pinewood Estate in Killarney who is a member of Spa GAA Club and Killarney Celtic FC.
Ian, a transition year student in St Brendan’s College, Killarney, was cycling with three friends in Killarney National Park on August 16 last when his bicycle struck a log and was thrown over the handlebars.
He suffered serious neck and spinal injuries and after being initially assessed in University Hospital Kerry for 10 days, he was transferred to the Mater Hospital for specialist treatment.
Posting a snapshot from Ian’s hospital bedside, hurling fanatic Buff remarked: “He is an unbelievable, positive person. I was absolutely honoured and humbled to visit him”.
Buff, from Kerry, is famous for his quirky catchphrases, including ‘Capiche’ “Hail! Hail!”, “Deleeeeted”, “Lash it off the belly” and “Shucky ducky quack quack”.
There is a bank account set up at AIB, Main Street, Killarney for any donation to the Ian O’Connell Fund: Account Name: Ian O’Connell Fund; Account Number: 64056025; Sort Code: 936332; BIC: AIBKIE2D; IBAN: IE24AIBK93633264056025.
KillarneyToday.com: Your professional local news service. Call 064-6631281 or email news@killarneytoday.com
