Online fundraiser for Ballycumber native tops €45k

A GoFundMe page which was set up to support former Ballycumber man Ollie Daly who has suffered ill health in recent times leading to a leg amputation has raised over €45,000.

Ollie survived a quadruple heart bypass some years ago and diabetes contributed to his leg amputation. The former Offaly GAA chairman is renowned for his dedication and commitment to his local community and county.

Ollie's biggest obstacle is the need to alter his house in Gallen View, Ferbane, to enable him to 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.

Ollie said that the support for him through the GoFundMe has been “absolutely brilliant” so far. “I appreciate every euro of it and it'll be spent well.”

He explained his house in Ferbane needs to be extended and a wet room (walk-in shower) has to be built as the toilet is currently upstairs.

The Ballycumber native added that he appreciated all the support from his friends, family and the local GAA clubs.

Erin Rovers GAA recently made a donation to the fundraiser for Ollie and said that they “wish him well in his recovery.” Throughout his life, Ollie served the GAA, as player, as club officer, as team manager, as trainer of club teams far and wide, as mentor, and always as a huge supporter of the Gaelic Games he loves. He has served as chairman of his county and his club.

Speaking about the GoFundMe, Ferbane GAA said: “For those yet to contribute, your participation in this cause holds the potential to positively impact Ollie's life. Your support contributes to the realisation of a home perfectly suited to his needs.”

Ollie had his left leg amputated last summer and has been in a wheelchair since then. He said that he is waiting to have a prosthetic leg fitted. Ollie said: “I am on dialysis now as well as everything else because I got pneumonia (in St James Hospital, Dublin) and four times I had fluid everywhere in my lungs and kidneys and heart and I was very lucky to pull through."

He was supposed to spend two days in hospital but ended up nine weeks in St James's and a further 17 weeks in the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore.

Ollie said that he's living in his son's house in Ballycumber currently as he can't live in his own house until it's altered. He thanked the committee that was set up to assist him in his recovery with the GoFundMe.

The former County Board chairman took over the position of chairman from Gracefield's Tommy Byrne at the GAA convention in December 2004.

Ollie has a history of team management and particularly with his native Ballycumber Club. He has also served as a trainer with Doon, Clara, Shamrocks, Kilcormac, St Rynagh's and Ferbane. At county level, he has worked with the Offaly Senior Under 21s and Junior teams.

Ollie has also played football with Ballycumber, hurled with St Carthage's, played soccer with Ferbane Town, squash with Clara, golf with Moate and badminton with Ferbane. He also previously stood as an election candidate in the local elections for Offaly County Council.