The golfer said she was ‘very courageous and in great spirits’This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Pádraig Harrington with Féile in hospital(Image: @padraig_h / X)
It was a very special moment for West Cork girl Féile O’Sullivan as one of her favourite celebs – Irish golfer Padraig Harrington – paid her a visit as she undergoes rehab after a life-changing injury.
The 13-year-old is currently seeing medical teams at both the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire and Crumlin Hospital as part of her ongoing recovery after she lost both her legs in an accident last year. Since then, she has bravely faced dozens of surgeries and months bedbound in hospital away from family, friends, and her beloved dog Beara. But the community from her home in Allihies in West Cork rallied to support her and soon launched one of the most impressive fundraising drives Ireland has ever seen.
The GoFundMe set up to cover Féile’s medical expenses was the biggest in Ireland in 2025, bringing in a whopping €784k in just a few months. But even though it’s now closed to donations, their ‘Stand4Féile’ campaign is far from over. Its organisers – which include Allihies club Garnish GAA and Beara Councillor Finbarr Harrington – have three more fundraising events lined up over the next few weeks, where they hope to bring the total fund for Féile’s recovery to €1.3m. And this week, their campaign got a major shoutout as one of the biggest names in Irish golf – Padraig Harrington – took a special interest in the cause and decided to meet brave Féile in person.
The sports star shared a photo on social media this afternoon showing him visiting Féile in her hospital room, where he had a chance to chat with her and learn about her medical journey. Harrington said she was “very courageous and in great spirits” – and he used his post to share details on upcoming fundraisers with his hundreds of thousands of followers online.
Féile O’Sullivan(Image: https://gaacork.ie/)
These events include a Golf Classic taking place on April 16, 17 and 18, 2026 at Kenmare Golf Club in County Kerry, as well as a Jersey Day fundraiser for schools across Ireland. This will take place on Friday, 20 March 2026, where students can wear their favourite kit into class while making a small donation to show support – schools can register online here.
Meanwhile, a special Stand4Féile Gala Concert – organised by the White Horse Gospel Choir, and featuring Cork singer/songwriter Fiona Kennedy – will be held at the Éire Óg GAA Club Cork in Ovens on Saturday, Mar 7. This event will run from 7pm to 8.30pm, and tickets cost €22.42. You can book yours here.
Speaking to Cork Beo, The Beara’s Cllr Finbarr Harrington said that Féile was “delighted” with her special visit from such a big name in Irish sport. He added: “She would be a big fan of him. Padraig Harrington’s father actually came from the Beara and he has a lot of relations here, he has a strong link. All of the kind of celebrity shoutouts she got on social media and visits like this are really really heartwarming for her always.”
He added Féilie is still dead-set on getting back home and into the classroom before the end of this school year, which he says is “very doable.” At the very least, Cllr. Harrington said she will “definitely” get home this summer, but will still need further check-ups and visits to Dublin hospitals in future.
Want to see more of the stores you love from Cork Beo? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Cork Beo as a preferred source, simply click here.