THE FATHER of Donegal teen Conor Boyle has been left “overwhelmed” by the support his family is receiving while his young son continues to fight for his life in a British hospital.
Sports stars and celebrities rallied around Conor’s family on Sunday, more than a week after the crash that sent the 18-year-old into a coma.
The wave of attention put the hashtag “#PrayForConor” on Twitter’s trending list of most popular messages in Ireland throughout Sunday and Monday.
Thousands rushed to get behind the Boyle family as they await more key test results this week.
Donegal’s All-Ireland winning footballers Michael Murphy, Paddy McBrearty and Mark McHugh were among the first to publish messages of support for Conor, who is a keen footballer and plays for Annagry club Naomh Muire.
They were joined by a host of other GAA stars, including Kerry footballers Paul Galvin and Darren O’Sullivan, Galway hurler Joe Canning and pundit Joe Brolly.
“Twitter went through the roof,” Conor’s father Hugh told The Irish Post yesterday (Monday).
“The family is overwhelmed by the support we are getting at this difficult time.
"I am getting calls and texts from people all around the world, people I haven’t even heard from in 20 years. And people who don’t even know us have sent Mass cards."
Support for the family has also spread across the Irish Sea, with Ireland legend Shay Given, rugby player Peter Stringer and Bradford City footballer Carl McHugh asking their followers to pray for Conor.
Similar messages were published by Holly Hagan and Sophie Kasaei, stars of the hit MTV show Geordie Shore, who share more than 1.5 million followers on Twitter.
My strength is your strength. #PrayForConor
— paul galvin (@pgal10) September 15, 2013
Hopefully this lad can fight it! Terrible news but everybody please! Puts life in perspective! #PrayForConor
— Mark McHugh (@MarkMcHugh1) September 15, 2013
Can everyone please get #PrayForConor trending
— Darran O'Sullivan (@Darransull86) September 15, 2013
Say a prayer for Conor Boyle, a member of @NaomhMuire who is seriously ill in England following an accident last weekend. #PrayForConor
— Official Donegal GAA (@officialdonegal) September 15, 2013
Keep fighting young man #PrayForConor
— Peter Stringer (@stringer9) September 15, 2013
See More: Car Crash, Conor Boyle, Donegal, Prayforconor
