St. Stephen's Day Fun Football Match

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Eyeries Football Pitch was the venue again this year to blow the cobwebs of the Christmas Dinner and witness gallant men exercising their 'talents' on the pitch in a fun game of soccer.  This year, the funds raised went towards the Aidan Con O'Sullivan Trust Fund.  Large crowds gathered to cheer on the 'footballers' on the field as they worked off their Christmas Cheer and provided rip roaring entertainment in the process. The event was organised and co-ordinated and indeed refereed by Colman Frank O'Sullivan.

During the first half, soccer was played with the conventional soccer ball - which proved elusive on many occasions to those trying to work it into the back of the net. Causkeys Bar pulled ahead with a one goal lead just before the half-time whistle. But the real entertainment came when the second half when the soccer game was played with a rugby ball - which really put the players to the test.  O'Shea's Bar scored a goal from a penalty during this half which ended the game on a 1-1 scoreline.

The gate takings on the day accrued a generous £3,490 and the raffle brought in a further £475.  There will be an auction of the soccer and rugby balls that were used - signed by the teams - at O'Shea's Bar on New Year's Day which will bring the total fund-raising amount to well over £4,000. 

The Aidan Con Trust Fund is currently being set-up to raise funds to assist in the recovery of 25 year old Aidan Con O'Sullivan from Adrigole, who was involved in a freak accident while playing football earlier on this year.  As a result, Aidan received severe spinal injuries and is presentlly confined to a wheelchair. He is undergoing intensive treatment at the Rehabilitation Centre at Dun Laoghaire, but is currently home for Christmas.  May we at Bearainfo wish him all the best for 2002 and continued success in his recovery. 

The Adrigole Committee which is the overall management of the Trust Fund is made up of the following personnel:
Chairman: Tony Carey, Secretary: Marie Goggin, Asst. Secretary: John Joe O'Sullivan, Treasurers: Maura O'Sullivan & Brian Blake and the following committee members: Michael Joe O'Sullivan, Pearse Murphy (Treasurer of Cork Co. GAA Board), Michael O'Sullivan John Costello (Secretary of the Dublin Co. GAA Board).  A sub-committee has also been set-up in Cork and comprises the following officers: Chairman: Der O'Regan (Douglas GAA), Secretary: Michael Dunne, Treasurer: Anna Foy, Coleman Frank O'Sullivan and Séan O'Sé .Accounts are presently being opened at AIB Bank, Castletownbere - Deposit Account details: Aidan Con O'Sullivan Trust Fund, Allied Irish Banks, Castletownbere, A/C No. 01211085, Sort Code: 93-62-78 where monies can be lodged to the very worthwhile fund. 

An official launch of the Trust Fund is being scheduled for February when a list of upcoming events will be announced.  If you are reading this and would like to organise a fund-raising event - the committee would like to hear from you.  All events must be notified to the committee prior to running them - this advice was given to the group by their legal advisors.  They can be contacted by either emailing them at: actrustfund@eircom.net or the Secretary, Marie Goggin can be contacted by phone: Home: +353-27-60070.  Work: +353-27-60065 or Coleman Frank O'Sullivan: +353-86-2208743.   The events can be listed at the official launch and will be promoted by the committee and by this web site.  A c.c. email to news@bearainfo.com will ensure that the events will be included in the weekly news section of the website.

The fund-raising events kicked off last Friday at Thady's Bar in Adrigole, where a Table Quiz raised over £1,300.  On Christmas Day, approximately 30 people partook in a Christmas Day Swim at Adrigole which raised over £4,000.  Further details will be published as they become available.