Jerseys, hurls and dozens of new friends as Shane’s fundraiser nears €15k mark

A BALLINTOGHER mother and son who set out on a unique trip to all the major GAA county grounds in the country say they are “bowled over” by the response they have received from the sporting and general public for their unique fundraiser.

The trip saw Shane Kelly (17) and his mum Sabrina drive just over 2,500 kms in six days to 33 GAA grounds across the length and breadth of the country, starting in Antrim’s Corrigan Park and fittingly, finishing in Croke Park, Dublin, last Friday evening. As well as visiting 33 GAA grounds, the pair also called in to The Showgrounds as Shane is a huge Sligo Rovers fan.

The trip, to mark Shane’s 18th birthday in November, was a dream come true for the Ballintogher teenager and it has raised close to €15,000 for Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Dublin, where Shane was treated over a long period when he was a very young child A GoFundMe page called ‘County to County trip’ set up by Shane’s mum had already generated a remarkable €9,920 by lunchtime on Tuesday of last week.

Last week their story featured on the front page of the Sligo Weekender and Shane’s mum Sabrina said Shane was chuffed when he arrived home on Saturday last to see his story on the paper’s front page.

“He loved that, and he loved the trip, we were met by hurling and Gaelic football stars across the country and they could not have been nicer to us, it has been a very special few days,” his mum Sabrina said.

In Kilkenny they met hurling stars TJ Reid, Walter Walsh, Owen Cody and Conor Fogarty – Shane was presented with an autographed hurl and went for a puc about in Nolan Park with them.

In Cork, famous manager and player Conor Counihan was on hand to give Shane a guided tour of Páirc Uí Chaoimh. In Kerry they met Gaelic footballers Gavin White and Graham O’Sullivan, while in Offaly, manager, player and TV pundit (and now County Board chairman) Michael Duignan hosted them.

At the home of Dublin GAA in Parnell Park on their final day on the road (Friday) the Dubs did them proud, as Cormac Costello, Brian Howard and Lorcan O’Dell were there with the Delaney Cup and a signed Dublin jersey.

“The week could not have gone any better, we never saw rain until our way home when all was done, the car stood to the test and I suppose so did we. The only drama was meeting all the great people who came out to greet my son. I am very