A Galway community has come together to support a talented young footballer who suffered a life-changing spinal injury on a foreign holiday last summer – in the hope of flying him to Australia for pioneering treatment to give him back his independence.

Prior to his accident, seventeen-year-old Fionn Silke was a talented footballer who played with Oughterard FC, the Mayo Football League, and Salthill Devon.

But his life changed last summer on holidays in Bosnia when the Oughterard teenager suffered a horrific spinal injury.

After spending an initial month in critical care in Bosnia, Fionn was transferred home to Ireland to the Mater Hospital and is currently in the National Rehabilitation Hospital where he continues to make progress.

His best chance of significant recovery lies in pioneering treatment at a highly specialised clinic in Australia – and now his friends and family in Oughterard have launched a major fundraising drive to make that happen.

Calling it the Fionndraiser, they will host a fashion show in the Clayton Hotel, Galway, on Thursday, February 16, at 8pm.

Tickets cost €30 and can be purchased at Eventbrite or by contacting Caroline on (086) 8088676.

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