THE London Galway Association is hosting a benefit dance to help raise funds for an Irishman paralysed after a fall on a building site in Hertfordshire.
Ashley Grealish-Donohue, 29, from Twickenham in west London, fell 13 metres and sustained serious injuries while working on Watford FC’s Vicarage Road stadium in June 2016.
He was taken by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital where he eventually recovered enough to begin his rehabilitation.
But the fall paralysed the father-of-two from the waist down and confined him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Ashley’s father is from Galway and played for Robert Emmetts hurling club in London for 11 years. A number of local GAA organisations have now stepped up to back the cause.
Tony McMahon, 67, is leading the fundraising effort in the hope to give Ashley any kind of financial support going forward.
He has organised a benefit dance at The Claddagh Ring in Hendon for Saturday, May 6 with music, finger food and a range of entertainment on offer.
“Everyone I have asked to help Ashley, not one person has refused. The Irish community in London are something else. They've really stood behind Ashley and shown their class,” Tony said.
“What happened to Ashley was a horrible bit of bad luck. I just want to, as an able-bodied person myself, help the lad as much as I can because this sort of thing could happen to any one of us at any time.”
Mr McMahon explained how he first met Ashley’s family when he was his father’s neighbour back in Kilbeacanty, near Gort in Co. Galway.
Ashley’s uncle suffered a similar workplace accident in Birmingham after moving to Britain in 1968.
Mr McMahon added that Ashley has been moved to a wheelchair accessible property in Hayes away from his Twickenham home since his own accident.
“Ashley was originally told that he would be able to move back within a couple of months but he still hasn’t returned,” he said.
“He has two beautiful little girls and a long-term partner and is lucky enough to be surrounded by love. But he has been told by the insurance company that his case will take years to settle and that he won’t see any money anytime soon.”
“This young fella has his whole life ahead of him, you know? His youngest daughter is only five weeks old. He needs all the help he can get.”
