The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Killarney Park Hotel staff get on their bikes for young Ian
STAFF at The Killarney Park Hotel are getting behind the Ian O’Connell Trust at this year’s Ring of Kerry Cycle, spearheading a campaign using the #Ianspiration hashtag as they take to their bikes and 175 kilometres of south Kerry’s roads for a man who has worked weekends at the Killarney hotel.
Ian, a 16-year-old of Saint Brendan’s College, Killarney, sustained serious head and neck injuries in a cycling accident in Killarney National Park last August.
A keen sportsman, the trust was set up by Spa GAA in his name, with the fund to be used to help meet his ongoing needs and rehabilitation programme. The trust has been heavily supported, including by sports clubs in the county and beyond.
John Downes of sales and marketing at the hotel described Ian as a “lovely lad” and explained that 10 members of staff have currently pledged their involvement to the campaign – with more set to follow.
“We have great time for Ian here as he carried out weekend work with us,” Mr Downes told The Kerryman. “We have 10 members of staff who’re ready to take on the cycle, but more are getting ready to take part as well.”
Among Ian’swishes in his courageous bid to fight the effects of his accident is to one day write again. He has vowed to keep up hope and to never quit.
The trust is among 15 charities that make up the main beneficiaries of this year’s cycle. If you wish to take part by cycling on behalf of the trust, visit www.ringofkerrycycle.ie/ ian-oconnell-trust/.
To find out more about the cycle itself, log on at www. ringofkerrycycle.ie.
You can also donate to the cause via www.gofundme.com/ ian-oconnell-fund or by lodging into the bank account set up at AIB, Main St, Killarney.
The account name is the Ian O’Connell Fund, and further details are as follows: account number 64056025; sort code 936332; BIC is AIBKIE2D; and IBAN is IE24AIBK93633264056025.