'It's fantastic!': €10,000 Limerick GAA windfall after rainfall flooded soccer club

ABBEYFEALE United FC has received a big windfall of €10,000 in the  Club Limerick GAA draw after rainfall flooded the club during Storm Bert.

On Saturday, November 23, a big clean-up operation commenced after a combination of melting snow and rain caused riverbanks to be breached. John Kelliher, chairman of the soccer club, said it was the first time ever that they were flooded.

“Our pitch was two and a half feet under water. Our dressing rooms, clubhouse and  storage area, badly damaged. We had committee members and volunteers helping out, clearing out the place, and giving us a dig-out,” said John. 

They included 12-year-old Evan O’Mahony who swapped his goalie gloves for work gloves.

“There's a great community in Abbeyfeale. It’s when things go against you and you see people putting their shoulders to the wheel,” said John.

“I got a phone call that morning from the chairman of Abbeyfeale RFC, Adam Roche, to ask if there was anything that was needed or required. They had a big home game against Fermoy and they donated half the gate to us and the other half to Fr Casey’s GAA Club which was also flooded,” he continued.

READ MORE: ‘A bloody nightmare’: Homes, businesses and sports clubs ‘destroyed’ by flooding in Limerick

Exactly a week on from the flooding, the club’s luck turned when they won the top prize of €10,000 in Club Limerick’s November draw. In another twist of fate, Fr Casey’s sold the ticket

“Phones were hopping! It was just fantastic to hear that news after the week we had. Winning €10,000 at any time is brilliant but never was it more badly-needed than now. There is a lot of money that needs to be spent. 

“We'd be hopeful that our insurance and Government agencies come together and give us a dig out but it was fantastic news,” said John, who is delighted that Fr Casey's will benefit from the win too as they suffered even more damage.

“I suppose it all started about ten or 12 years ago. Liam O'Connor asked us would we buy a ticket. Liam is a great friend of the club and he's involved in the GAA heavily as well. 

“Fr Casey’s were heavily impacted by the flood and probably a bit worse than ourselves because they have a clubhouse with a bar. They have carpets and floors and it's all destroyed. We feel for them, we know what they're going through,” said John.

Word spread of the soccer club’s win at the General Election count in Limerick Racecourse on Saturday and John wished to thank local councillors Liam Galvin and Francis Foley and Minister Patrick O’Donovan for all their help.