“We are so grateful to everyone who supported the event by buying tickets or attending the dinner in City Hall, your support was truly phenomenal.”
The organisers of the Liam Miller memorial match have announced that the event helped raise €1.5m.
The tribute game took place at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on September 25 between Manchester United legends and a combined Celtic and Republic of Ireland legends team.
There were almost 45,000 people in attendance on the day.
Here's @RobRedmond10 on the #LiamMillerTribute match in Cork… https://t.co/q7uUnZF9ZY
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 25, 2018
The match was played in honour of Miller who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer last February.
The former Celtic, Ireland, United and Cork City midfielder was just 36 when he died.
The organisers of the match have thanked those who attended the event, those who donated to the Miller memorial fund and those who helped get the game staged.
“This was such a wonderful occasion for the people of Cork and sports fans throughout Ireland who attended an event that brought some very famous footballing stars to Cork,” said Michael O’Flynn, the chairman of the organising committee.
“It was indeed both celebratory and poignant, saluting the achievements of one of Cork’s sporting heroes who sadly lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. We are so grateful to everyone who supported the event by buying tickets or attending the dinner in City Hall, your support was truly phenomenal. We are delighted to have achieved this level of fundraising, and are pleased to donate funds to the various charities as a result.”
O’Flynn went on to thank those who helped get the game staged, including Alex Ferguson, John O’Shea, John Caulfield, Cork City FC, the FAI, the GAA and the Cork County Board.
“The Miller family are humbled by the events and the outpouring of support from the people of this country, and supporters from further afield,” he said.
Roy Keane, who captained and managed the United legends side, and helped organise the game, also thanked those who helped contribute to the event.
“Everyone involved in the game is delighted with the amount raised, which will benefit so many people,” he said.
“The response from the public towards the Miller family is truly amazing.”
“We feel truly blessed and grateful. We would like to thank everyone involved from the bottom of our hearts. The love and support you have shown will always be remembered and treasured by us,” Clare Miller, Liam’s wife, said on behalf of the Miller family.
Here’s how the money raised will be distributed:
- €1m has been put into a Trust for Liam Miller’s family for the purpose of providing for their long-term financial security. The four Trustees are Michael O’Flynn; Roy Keane; Graham Barrett, and Ciaran Medlar.
- €250k will be donated to Marymount Hospice, Cork, where Liam received end of life care.
- €100k will be donated to The Jack O’Driscoll Fund*.
- €35k will be donated to Mercy University Hospital Foundation.
- €35k will be donated to the Oesophageal Cancer Fund.
- €20k each will be donated to Enable Ireland, Cork Simon Community, Cork Penny Dinners and Down Syndrome Cork.
*Jack O’Driscoll is a young man from Mayfield in Cork who was left paralysed following a freak accident during Storm Emma earlier this year. Jack was involved in Hurling and Football with Mayfield GAA club in Cork City and also St. Mary’s A.F.C in Cork.
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