James "Jacko" McDonagh

Dear friends,

We are here to ask for your help in raising funds for our father, James "Jacko" McDonagh who suffered a severe stroke back in May when he returned from France to celebrate his 60th birthday with his friends & family.

What was supposed to be a joyous celebration resulted in an unexpected event that has left Dad paralysed on his left side and needing extensive care to support his needs.

Everybody close to Dad, family & friends have found the last few months extremely challenging. Although Dad has lost the ability to walk, he still has his usual wit and charm that keeps everyone going!

Dad played professional football and represented the Republic of Ireland at all levels, including the senior international team on, 3 occasions. He enjoyed his schoolboy football with a very successful Shelbourne FC team. He first graduated to the League of Ireland as a 17-year-old with Bohemians FC, followed by a remarkable four seasons with a golden Shamrock Rovers generation. In 1985 our Dad was signed as a full-time professional by Nimes Olympique in France. Sadly our Dad's commitment to the life of a professional footballer in the 1980s provided no financial rewards to deal with the costs associated with his current long-term care requirements. This is why we are here to ask for your help. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a difference in our Dad's life.

It is difficult to estimate with certainty the total funding required to deal with our Dad's long-term care for his remaining years. Our best estimate of the extra funding required, not covered by State aid or personal sources, is €120,000.

We are hoping to raise €120,000 to cover the estimated deficit in the cost of our Dad's care and provide him with the comfort and dignity he deserves. With your support, we can help ensure that our Dad receives the best care possible for his needs.

Please consider making a donation and sharing this GoFundMe page with your friends and family. Thank you for your generosity and support.

Finally, all funds raised will be lodged in a bank account set up to administer the funds donated. A financial account for the administration of the funds will be published on this GoFundMe page as soon as possible after the end of each calendar year. In the event that funds remain in the account and are no longer required for their stated purpose, the funds will be transferred to a registered Charity(s) caring for Stroke victims. The detail of any transfer to a Charity(s) will also be published on this GoFundMe page.

Thank you for all of your help and support,

Edward & Jean-Baptiste