Our Seriously Injured Players
The Charitable Trust currently assists 36 seriously injured players across the four provinces of Ireland.
- Connacht – 2 injured players
- Leinster – 12 injured players
- Munster – 6 injured players
- Ulster – 16 injured players
Below are some of their stories …
Victor Connell
Longford RFC, Leinster
Injured in 2005
Victor lives in an environmentally friendly home which he built in 2008 and was featured on RTE’s television programme “About the House” with Duncan Stuart.
Victor was voted the youngest ‘Longford Person of the Year’ in 2016; and in 2017 he founded and is Director & Manager of Longford Counselling Services.
Garrett Culliton
Wanderers FC, Leinster
Injured in 1992
From County Laois, Garrett represented Ireland in four Paralympic Games in the Discus. He has taken part in the Berlin, Boston and London Marathons and helped introduce wheelchair rugby to Ireland. Listen to Garrett tell his story in his own words in the video adjacent …
Neil Finnegan
Seapoint RFC, Leinster
Injured in 1977
Neil lives in Dalkey where his family run the famous Finnegans of Dalkey Pub. He is a huge rugby fan and has been known to host the odd breakfast around the Lions Tour.
Brendan Glynn
Mallow RFC, Munster
Injured in 1994
Brendan lives with his wife Deirdre in Mallow and has two daughters Maeve and Grace. Both Maeve and Grace played rugby (Maeve still does). As a family they love watching rugby matches together as well as heading to Munster and Ireland games in Brendan‘s specially adapted vehicle.
Watch the adjacent video of Brendan and his family talking about Brendan’s injury, their love for rugby and how the Charitable Trust has helped. This video was included in the Charitable Trust’s “A Question of Rugby” – to view the full show click here.
“Inspirational Brendan’s Glynn love for rugby strongrer than ever, 27 years after his life changing injury” – by Rob O’Halloran from Extra.ie.
Click here to read the article.
Mark Governey
Lansdowne FC, Leinster
Injured in 1999
Mark lives in Dublin with his mum Elizabeth. He has recently had his sitting room converted into a room which he can now easily access. Mark said “I cannot begin to thank you enough for not only transforming our house but also my life with the new extension, we have a lovely garden at home and the new renovations have literally brought the garden into the house.”
Jamie Graham
Methodist College & Newcastle University, Ulster
Injured in 2006
From Belfast, Jamie loves to go out on his handcycle with his son and his wife Natalie. He studied for his Masters in Accountancy and enjoys working in that area. Jamie and his family went on an Ireland Road Trip during 2020 – read about their great experience by clicking here. Listen to Jamie’s video and how the Trust has helped him during the pandemic …
Paddy Greeves
Royal School Dungannon, Ulster
Injured in 2018
Watch the amazing journey to recovery Paddy was on from his injury in South Africa on tour with Royal School Dungannon, to walking out of hospital in his video …
Bernard Healy
Skerries RFC, Leinster
Injured in 1980
Bernard, also known as ‘H’ from Skerries, is always good humoured. He has a Masters Degree in Irish Studies from Trinity College and lives with his wife Peng and daughter. Bernard enjoys travelling and took part in the Jubilee Sailing Trip a couple of times with the Charitable Trust.
Bernard has been keeping a diary during the Covid Pandemic – click here to read how Bernard has been coping with the pandemic and lockdowns.
Ciarán McCarthy
C.Y.M., Leinster
Injured in 2002
Ciarán lives in Dublin with his parents. He wrote the Book ‘I will walk Alone’ which was published in 2016, he launched it in Terenure College the day Ireland beat the All Blacks in Chicago!
He works for the Incorporated Council for Law Reporting in Ireland.
Niall McCool
Armagh RFC, Ulster
Injured in 1999
Niall McCool lives in Armagh with his wife Pamela, and their three daughters Grace, Erin and Miriam. A sports fan, you will still find Niall at Kingspan and Aviva Stadium for rugby matches; but his passion now is for hockey where Niall has coached teams to medals success. With a degree in graphic design, Niall is Group Communications Manager for Fane Valley Group NI.
Click here to read Niall’s interview with our media partner Extra.ie.
Craig McMillan
Ballyclare High School, Ulster
Injured in 1999
Craig lives in Ballyclare with his wife Caroline and his son. He works as a Civil Engineer in Belfast. He has enjoyed playing for the Irish Wheelchair Rugby Team in many competitions and in a RWC in 2007.
Danny Noonan
Galbally RFC, Munster
Injured in 1999
An avid rugby fan to this day, Danny is from Galbally and was a Munster Schools Hooker, he has a Diploma in Business Studies from Waterford GMIT. He did a Parachute Jump from 13,000 ft in the Summer of 2018 in aid of the Tipperary Wheelchair Association. He loves a challenge and going to his local Gym.
See Danny’s skydive for charity adjacent … a very brave man!
Mick O’Connell
Dolphin RFC, Munster
Injured in 2003
From Blackrock in Co. Cork, Mick played for Dolphin RFC. He lives with his wife Colleen and three children and as an avid rugby supporter, Mick likes to attend his Club and provincial matches.
Watch the video adjacent to see how the Trust has helped Mick …
David Ross
Wallace High School, Ulster
Injured in 2013
David is very active and plays wheelchair rugby, he lives between Moira in Co. Down and London. He graduated with first class honours in Sport and Exercise Science.
Listen to David’s inspiring story by clicking here.
Mike Scott
Belfast High School, Ulster
Injured in 1986
To say Mike is an avid rugby supporter is an understatement! He lives in Belfast and you will see him out and about meeting up for socially distanced coffee.
He represented the Trust on the Jubilee Sailing Trip in 2018 with his sister and Bernard Healy which you can read about by clicking here.
