GOAL Sporting Patrons

Gordon D'Arcy visits GOAL street children's project in India

Since the inception of GOAL, stars from the world of sport have been unfailingly generous in giving their time, energy and public profile to highlight the plight of the poorest of the poor and the work that GOAL is doing to help them.

Having played rugby at the highest level with both Ireland and the British and Irish Lions, Shane Byrne has proved himself capable of taking on the biggest challenges. But when he visited GOAL’s projects in Calcutta he saw something even more testing. “When I came back a lot of people asked me, ‘Was it terrible?’ and my gut reaction was to say, ‘No’. I really enjoyed it because what I saw GOAL doing in these places is really positive. When you think about it you see some horrendous things, things you’d never want to see again, but GOAL is providing the key to the door to get people out.”

Shane’s former teammate Gordon D’Arcy was similarly moved when he went to India. “What GOAL does in India is inspirational, completely surpassing any ideas I had,” he said. “It put a smile on my face. I think once you become involved with a charity like GOAL and see what’s being done, you just want to know ‘what next?’” 

When the well-known sports presenter Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh visited GOAL’s projects in Calcutta, he was moved by the spirit of the people and saw what a difference the work of GOAL made to their lives. Seeing first hand how much can be achieved for so little, O Muircheartaigh commented: “You can really see where your donations are going here. It makes you realise what a difference even a small amount can make. While there is unbelievable poverty, there is also progress when you see how many street children are helped by GOAL.”

Kilkenny hurling star, DJ Carey is a long time supporter of GOAL’s work and has also spent time in Calcutta, where he was profoundly moved by the plight of the children in GOAL’s schools, night shelters and drop-in centres. Carey said on his return from Calcutta: “The difference that GOAL makes to the lives of the 8,500 street children in their various projects is incredible. They are literally being rescued from lives of squalor and being given a chance of life.”

Former Wimbledon champion, Pat Cash is president of GOAL UK. He was inspired by his visit to Calcutta and said that the message he brought home was one of hope: “Having seen what GOAL and its local partners are achieving in Calcutta, I am convinced that if their methods were adopted throughout the developing world, huge inroads into the problems of poverty could be made.”

Former World Number One Tennis Player Mats Wilander is President of GOAL USA, while Former Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash is President of GOAL UK.

Some of our other distinguished patrons include: Ken Doherty, Brian O’Driscoll, Keith Wood, Sonia O’Sullivan, John McEnroe, Niall Quinn, Peter Canavan, Padraig Harrington, Victor Costello, Andy Reid, John O’Shea, Seán Óg Ó Hailpín, Brian Kerr, Maurice Fitzgerald, Roy Keane, Hugo MacNeill, Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche, Peter Fleming, Shane Byrne, Eamon Coghlan, Catherina McKiernan, Joe Connolly, Eddie Jordan, Seamus Moynihan, Michael Carruth, Sean Boylan, Charlie Swan, Brian Whelehan, Ron Delaney, Kevin Moran, Yannick Noah, Fergus Slattery, Paul McGrath, Frank O’Meara, Ray McLoughlin, Anthony Molloy, Steve Scott, Eddie Keher, Brian Corcoran, Babs Keating, Barry Mc Guigan, Dr Jack Kyle, Liam Tuohy, Jack Charlton, Matt Doyle, Barry John, Tony Ward, Denis Irwin, Darren Clarke, John Treacy, Gary O 'Toole, Marcus O’Sullivan, Des Smyth, Steve Collins, Claire Hourihane, Brian McEniff, Niall O’Toole, Moss Keane, Joachim Nystrom, Paul Mc Ginley, Steve Cram, David O'Leary, Sean Sorensen, Liam Griffen, Gillian O’Sullivan, Kieran Mc Donald

Shane goes for GOAL
Irish Mirror, 14 September 2007

Older and bolder, D'Arcy steps out of O'Driscoll's shadow
Brendan Fanning, The Guardian, 23rd February 2007

D'Arcy enriched by working with poor in Calcutta Brendan Gallagher, The Daily Telegraph, 23rd February 2007

D'Arcy has goals in sharp focus
John O'Sullivan, The Irish Times, 22nd February 2007