Funds raised in memory of Rory O’Connor

A Cork family has raised almost €40,000 for the Irish Community Air Ambulance in memory of their son who died in a car crash in 2011.

Rory O’Connor, a keen sportsman and member of the Banteer/Lyre GAA Club, was just 19 years old when he died.

Rory’s parents Bernie and Pat O’Connor had planned to host a coffee morning on in November to mark what would have been Rory’s 30th birthday.

Instead, the family switched to a virtual event due to Covid-19 restrictions and asked people to give the price of a coffee and sticky bun.

A GoFundMe page created by the family reached the target of €2,000 within hours.

Since then, the donations have kept on coming. This week, Rory’s parents visited the Irish Community Air Ambulance base and presented a cheque for €37,784 to CEO Micheál Sheridan.

Rory’s mother Bernie said: “We want to say a huge thank you to the 865 donors. People gave with their hearts, it feels like everyone who heard about it donated and amazingly we’re still receiving donations.

“We picked the Irish Community Air Ambulance because we’re on the flight path. I used to be filled with dread every time I heard the helicopter overhead, thinking about whoever was in trouble.”

Irish Community Air Ambulance CEO Micheál Sheridan added: “I want to say a big thank you to the O’Connor family and to everyone near and far who donated.

“We have received great support from Banteer and the people of north Cork since day one and we are forever grateful.”

It is Ireland’s only charity-funded air ambulance.

It works in partnership with the National Ambulance Service and is tasked to respond to serious incidents and medical emergencies from its base in Rathcoole.