A Galway city school is rallying around to raise funds to help a pupil who fell ill earlier this year and who now needs 24-hour care as he continues his recovery.
Cillian O’Brien is from Tirellan Heights and a pupil of Scoil San Phroinsias, on the Headford Road, in Galway. On February 5 last, he went to school to play in a chess tournament.
Unfortunately a half an hour before starting the tournament, he collapsed in school, having suffered a catastrophic brain bleed caused by a rare condition called AVM, Arteriovenous Malformation. Cillian has been in hospital ever since with his family by his side. He has faced many surgeries and has now begun rehabilitation at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin.
Cillian’s vision, communication and movement have all been affected. In order to return home, Cillian’s home will have to be adapted drastically. Together with Cillian’s family and community, the staff of Scoil San Phroinsias wish to fundraise in order to support this work.
To this end, Scoil San Phroinsias is organising ‘A Night at The Dogs’ on Friday November 21 at the Greyhound Track, College Road to raise as much money as possible.
The organising committee have put in a huge amount of time preparing for the big night and the school is very fortunate that a parent, Hugh Keleghan, has been driving this fundraiser through his many links with the Galway and wider greyhound community.
David Hanniffy has been instrumental in leading this initiative in the school and has been ably supported by the rest of his Committee-Helen Moran, Aaron Broderick, Nicola Mooney, Deidre Foy and Aisling Larkin. The rest of the staff have also put in a huge effort seeking sponsorship for the night.
Tickets are €10 and can be purchased from any of the teachers or at the school. There will also be a raffle that night with over €5,000 worth of prizes including a family package for the Galway Races; a two night stay at the Galway Bay Hotel; Lifestyle Sport Shop Vouchers (€250 ); 4 rounds of golf at Bearna Golf Club; Christmas Hamper; and restaurant vouchers being just some of the wonderful prizes on offer. Tickets for the raffle are €5 for one or three for €10. The full list of prizes will be up on the school website and the draw will take place on November 21.
The school is raising funds to give Cillian the best chance at recovery. Every donation will go directly toward:
• Specialist treatments and therapies
• Equipment to help with mobility and communication
• Transport and accommodation for hospital appointments
• Long-term care and rehabilitation support
• Making his home safe and accessible
Additionally, neither of Cillian’s parents, Owen and Karen, have been able to return to work since his brain bleed, as he now requires around the clock care. The fundraiser has already raised over €170,000 of the €300,000 target.
Further surgeries and procedures will be needed in the New Year. He will be going for specialist radiosurgery in Sheffield, as the AVM is too risky to remove with traditional surgery. In the meantime, through all of this, Cillian’s courage, determination, and cheeky sense of humour have never left him, and he continues to inspire everyone who meets him.
Scoil San Phroinsias are grateful to so many of the local businesses who are supporting the Night At The Dogs. The school is really looking forward to the night and raising as much money as possible for Cillian. Please do what you can to help this worthy cause.
