A visit to the Bons!

Some of Cork City FC’s players took some time out of their busy training schedules recently to visit the children’s ward in a hospital on Leeside.

Eva Mangan, Sean Murray, Aoibhín Donnelly, Rio Shipston, Heidi Mackin and Matthew Kiernan spoke to the children, pose for photos and sign autographs and more importantly brought some Easter eggs with them during their visit to the Bon Secours Hospital.

They also met with hospital staff who showed them around the wards and talked to them about the work that is carried out at the children’s ward.

Cork City FC’s Community and Academy Coordinator Erika Ní Thuama said: “We are really grateful to the Bon Secours Hospital for their continued support. We know how difficult it is for children and their families to be in hospital, especially during occasions such as Easter so we wanted to help cheer them up. It was heartening to see their smiles when the players walked in with the Easter eggs.”

The Bon Secours Hospital has been the club’s official healthcare partner since 2018. A range of treatments are available to the club including speedy access to MRIs and X-Rays and access to heart-screening as required for player medicals while Declan Bowler is the club’s principal Specialist Sports Med/Orthopaedic Consultant.

CEO of the Bon Secours Hospital Cork Harry Canning said: “The staff who run our hospital's Children’s Ward ensure that every child gets the best care possible, but it can be an especially tough time for children when they’re away from their own homes. They were thrilled to get an opportunity to meet the Cork City FC players and the surprise visit really lifted the spirits of everyone in the hospital. I would like to thank them for taking the time to call and I’d also like to thank Musgraves for supporting the players' visit. We extend our best wishes to CCFC for the rest of the season.”