Fundraiser for former Offaly GAA chairman who has had leg amputated

A FUNDRAISER has been organised for one of Offaly's most popular GAA workers. Ollie Daly, a native of Ballycumber but living in Ferbane for decades, has fallen into bad health in recent times, having a leg amputated in the past few months because of diabetes.

He is a former chairman of his home club, Ballycumber, his adopted club Ferbane and of the Offaly GAA County Board.

He has given a lifetime of commitment to the GAA as a player, manager and then an administrator and is one of the county's most loved and cherished individuals.

Ollie has been hit with poor health in recent times – having survived a quadruple heart bypass some years ago, diabetes has led to the recent leg amputation while he is dealing with other problems as well.

A go fund me page has been set up to raise money for necessary alterations to his home at Gallen View, Ferbane as he is now in a wheelchair.

Ollie has spent considerable time in hospital in recent months as he dealt with and then recovered from his leg amputation. He has been back out and about in recent weeks, attending GAA games and other events and he has been given a great welcome by his many friends and admirers. He was also at the opening of the very impressive Ballycumber GAA Activity Centre late last year where he was treated with tremendous respect by all.

He was a talented footballer in his youth, winning a Senior Football Championship with Ballycumber in 1968. Later he was a serial trainer/manager of club teams throughout Offaly, leading some to county championship success. He has managed Offaly junior footballers and served on management teams at other grades.

He also immersed himself in GAA administration, first serving Ballycumber as chairman where he did trojan work. He was elected as Offaly GAA chairman for 2005, replacing Tommy Byrne and serving for three years before stepping down and being replaced by Pat Teehan, whom he had beaten in a vote in 2005.

After stepping down from this, Ollie nailed his club colours to the mast of his long time home town of Ferbane, while retaining a strong affinity and pride in his club of origin. He has done a couple of stints as chairman in Ferbane and has also done great work there as they returned as a force in Offaly football.

He has been a great fundraiser himself throughout his life, for the GAA and other causes, and he is noted for his sale of lotto tickets in the weekly Ferbane GAA draw.

Ollie has an infectious passion for the GAA and is one of those rare individuals, whom you will never heard a bad word said about. Unfortunately, he has ran into serious health difficulties and he now needs help himself.

His biggest obstacle is the need to alter his house in Gallen View, Ferbane to enable him return home and lead as normal and independent a life as possible. The renovations required and associated costs are considerable and a group of family and friends have joined forces to raise funds that will contribute to those costs.

He has travelled far and wide supporting Offaly county and club teams and attended Offaly Association in London and New York regularly when they were going. He is one of the county's greatest GAA supporters, a genuinely true follower whose contribution has been much deeper than merely going to games.

The fundraiser has been organised by friends and family of Ollie, they have set a target of €40,000 and donations can be made on: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-ollie-daly