Give Back for Jack fundraising weekend in Askeaton raises over €70,000 for two charities

Give Back for Jack fundraiser consisted of a number of different activities and the lcoal community came out to support the event. Rachel Enright, Nadine Griffin and Terese Griffin pictured above held a delicious bake sale at the family funday and soccer tournament.

Give Back for Jack fundraiser was a fundraiser for The Butterfly Club and Bumbleance and to install a new defibrillator in Askeaton

Give Back for Jack was a fundraising weekend held in Askeaton to mark the one-year anniversary of Jack O’Donoghue.

The event held from 9-12 April consisted of a number of different activities, including but not limited to road hurling, shave or wax, a soccer tournament and family fun day, auction, slow bike race, coffee morning and poker night.

Jack died in a road traffic accident on the N69 at Askeaton on 9 April 2025. Then thirty-three, Jack was an electrician by trade who had a keen interest in motorbikes and all sports. He played minor football for Limerick, won an all-Ireland gold medal in Community Games swimming as a child and was part of the Askeaton hurling side that won the junior B west final in 2017. For Jack’s family and friends organising the event, his death leaves a permanent void.

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It has taken the organisers of the Give Back for Jack weekend a full month since the event to count all the money raised. That is because of the sheer volume of it, with the fundraiser garnering a whopping €70,753.26! This amazing sum is down to all of those who donated so generously. The event received mammoth support in so many ways from so many.

The organisers of Give Back for Jack would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who donated and supported the weekend. It really does mean so much. A presentation to both charities the event fundraised for The Butterfly Club and Bumbleance, will be made in the coming weeks.

The Butterfly Club is a voluntary group based in Rathkeale since 2004 who offer respite to 54 children and young adults with additional needs living in the west Limerick area. They have approximately 70 adult and 20 student volunteers from all over Limerick who support them in offering this social club to children and young adults, while in turn giving their families respite. Among the activities offered are swimming, bowling, arts and crafts, baking and walking and cycling on the greenway.

Bumbleance is a children’s ambulance service that provides life changing journeys, allowing access to life saving care for hundreds of children each year. Last year, they looked after the journey and allowed parents to take a back seat 2,400 times. Their specially designed interiors offer entertainment, activities, environmental support and emotional comfort. This has enabled them to transform over 600,000km of journeys, reaching every county in Ireland.

Monies raised will be also used to buy and install a new defibrillator in Askeaton at the Barber’s Corner. A bench in memory of Jack will also be built near this location. A new box for the defib in Centra, Askeaton will also be purchased.

Again, we would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who made this weekend possible.

While this event arose from the tragic and immeasurable loss of Jack, it is heartening to see the fantastic support and community spirit around Askeaton.