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Legend Lar fondly remembered

Friday, 26 June 2009

A DUBLIN football and hurling legend was fondly remembered last week when a house for children with an intellectual disability was opened in his memory.  Pat Gilroy, Dublin senior football manager, and Stephen Cluxton and Tomas Quinn, members of the senior Dublin football team, attended the official opening of Lar Foley House in Baldoyle, a new community house for St Michael’s House. The house was developed with generous support from Gerry Gannon of Gannon Homes, who was a close friend of the late Mr Foley. Gerry Gannon and members of the Foley family, including Lar’s wife, Jo, attended the event. Chairman of St Michael’s House, Maurice Bracken, said: “It is a great honour and privilege for us to be able to name the house ‘Lar Foley’ in memory of one of St Vincent’s and Dublin’s greatest players. “We are very grateful for the support of Pat Gilroy and members of the Dublin football team who took time out of their busy championship schedule to support the official opening. “I am also delighted that our kind sponsor of this project, Gerry Gannon, attended. Without Gerry’s generous support this house would simply not have been built.” St Michael’s House took over responsibility for St Mary’s Hospital, Baldoyle, in 2008. Their plan is to transfer all of the residents at the hospital to community homes. Mr Bracken said Lar Foley House was the first step in achieving this goal. “The house will provide a home to six children who previously lived in St Mary’s Hospital, and who have moved from institutional care to a community based home,” he added. Pat Gilroy said: “It is a great honour to be asked to support the official opening of Lar Foley House and Stephen, Tomas and myself are delighted to attend the event. “Lar Foley was a great St Vincent’s and Dublin legend and indeed he mentored me as a junior. “I believe Lar would have been delighted to be associated with this community house for children and I think this is fitting tribute to Lar’s memory.“ Gerry Gannon said: “It has been a pleasure to be involved in this project as a tribute to my good friend Lar Foley and to help St Michael’s House.” Jo Foley, wife of the late Lar Foley, said: “Lar would be delighted to be remembered in this way.” Lar Foley House cost in the region of e1 million and will be able to cater for six children.