D'Arcy showboating for some Indian kids.
Fascinating Saturday interview with John O’Shea in the Irish Times. O’Shea is humanitarian, founder and CEO of Goal, an Irish Non-Governmental Aid Agency. A former sports journalist and self-confessed sports fanatic, O’Shea’s pragmatic approach to the political minefield of foreign aid to developing countries is refreshing. GOAL have dispensed over half a billion in disaster and development aid since its inception in the late 70’s.
GOAL has been really pro-active in taking on athletes and adopting them as ambassadors for the aid agency. In Leinster alone GOAL have signed up Jamie Heaslip, Luke Fitzgerald and Gordon D’Arcy; all potential Lions with D’Arcy having previously spent much of his summer breaks in Kolkatta, India.
I’m hoping to keep an eye out on other initiatives in the developing world that use rugby as a focus to fundraise, build a profile or bring people together in saving lives, educating and building for the future.
Nice break from the Munster-Leinster Heineken Cup guff, Lions selections and captaincy rubbish. Looks like its going to be O’Connell anyway. Jim Telfer pretty much let it slip about a month ago!
