ALL roads will lead to O’Donnell Park this Saturday for an eagerly-awaited Charity GAA match between the Circet staff and a Donegal select.
Donegal Hospice and Little Angels School are the benefiting charities and a lively afternoon of GAA action lies in store.
Roisin McCullagh of Circet explained to the Donegal News how the event was organised.
“We have a charity committee at the Design Hub here in Letterkenny and we are always looking for ideas to try and help local charities.
“We do Halloween dress-up and different things but we were looking to do something a little bigger coming up to the end of the year.
“Brendan Maguire and David Cafferkey are very involved in GAA and they thought we could make it work.
“So about two months ago we started to get things going for a charity GAA game, and we have got brilliant support so far.”
Many of the 2012 All-Ireland winning team will be donning the boots once again on Saturday.
They will get a chance to showcase their talents, and there will also be other well-known personalities about to lend a hand.
McCullagh said: “We thought it would be a good idea and Brendan and David got onto Michael Murphy and some of the other players and they all gave us the thumbs up.
“The Donegal team has got some very good players lining out like Michael, Eamon McGee, Paddy McGrath, Frank McGlynn, Martin McElhinney, Neil Gallagher, John Haran, Shauna McFadden and Niamh Boyle, and there are a few other guests like Eric Roberts and Jason Quigley.
“Anthony Molloy and Neil Gallagher will be managing the Donegal team.”
McCullagh says there has been plenty of good-natured fun in the Circet office in recent weeks as the big match began to appear on the horizon.
They boast plenty of GAA stars among their workforce, and a below-par performance could lead to some slagging next week.
“There are a lot of people in the office who play gaelic. It’s the only topic of conversation so it’s a good fit for us.
“We have the likes of Ethan O’Donnell, Fearghal Delaney, Michael Langan, Amy Boyle Carr, Shannon Maxwell, Rebecca McGinley, Jake Kelly, Brendan Maguire, and a good few of the Na Rossa boys like Aidan McHugh and John McDyre who had a good run in the championship recently.
“The Circet team will be managed by John McMonagle and Aidy Glackin.”
Naomh Conaill star Anthony Thompson is an employee of Circet but would be eligible to play for the Donegal select alongside many of his 2012 teammates as well. However, McCullagh says there are no questions over where his loyalties lie this week.
“Anthony will be playing for the Circet team.
“He’s been playing well enough in the last couple of weeks so we are keeping him.”
The match throws in at 2pm and people are encouraged to come out and support the event.
A raffle will also be held with some excellent prizes up for grabs.
“The two charities are Little Angels and Donegal Hospice.
“There are very few people in the county who haven’t had some sort of association with the Donegal Hospice at some stage and they do such great work.
“A few of our staff would also have children who attend Little Angels and they say it is a fantastic school so it’s nice to give a little back.
“John Haran and St Eunan’s were more than happy to give us O’Donnell Park for the match.
“It’s ten euro to attend and if you can’t make it, the match ticket will enter you into the raffle and we have some great prizes.
“Watson Hire, St Eunan’s, Mac’s Deli, The Dubliner Bar Boston, Braidwater Group, Falcon Green, Michael Murphy’s Sports, Sonny McSwine’s, Radisson Blu Hotel Letterkenny, Murvagh Golf course, Dillon’s Hotel, Four Star Pizza, Kelly’s Diner, Portsalon Golf Club, Aura, Sweeney’s Spar, Doherty’s Bar, Mary Mac’s Bar, Peadar Jim’s, Marley’s Coaches, Antarctic Fishing Company, Evolve Menswear, Tinney’s Oil, and Brid Fitness have all sponsored the event and we are very thankful to them.
“Circet Ireland and UK have also been very supportive of us.”
“It should be a great day out.”
Click on the link to purchase your big match ticket.
https://embed.futureticketing.ie/c/donegal-gaa/
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)