Hospice community award for GAA Club after raising €41,000

ST JUDE’S GAA Club in Templeogue has won a Hospice Hero Community Fundraising Award in recognition of club members raising over €41,000 in support of Blackrock Hospice.

The sports club raised the money as a result of their annual Bull Run event, which is held in memory of their late teammate Mick ‘The Bull’ Fallon.

Mick, who was affectionately known as The Bull because of his strong build, passed away in January 2021 aged 49 after a long illness. He received palliative care in the Blackrock Hospice.

A familiar face to many in St Jude’s, Mick played gaelic football and hurling, and also coached for the club.

The Bull Run saw participants walk, run and cycle 100km throughout January, clocking up thousands of miles collectively.

Last week, St Jude’s received the Hospice Hero Community Fundraising Award from Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services in recognition of their impressive charitable feat.

Michael Moran of St Jude’s GAA Club said: “Mick was full of generosity and goodness. He was always ready to help out and he did this quietly and without fuss.

“He was the best of the best of us and is hugely missed, but will never be forgotten.

“Mick was cared for at home by his family and the community palliative care team from Blackrock Hospice.

“That is why the ‘Bull Run’ was started and will continue to celebrate a man who made such a difference to everyone he met.”

The inaugural Hospice Hero Community Fundraising Award was presented to Mick’s wife Sinead Fallon, his daughters, Kate and Saoirse, and members of St Jude’s GAA club last week.