Liam Horan, Irish Independent, 2nd February 2008

GOAL charity founder John O'Shea is to be honoured with a civic reception in the town of his youth, writes Liam Horan.

Mr O'Shea moved to Westport when his banker father was transferred to work there.

The Mayo town's council will accord him a civic reception next month to coincide with the charity's annual Mayo GOAL Golf Classic.

"We are glad to be able to host the 10th Annual Mayo GOAL Golf Classic and be part of the honouring of GOAL'S John O'Shea for his work in so many countries around the world," said Sean Walsh, captain of Westport Golf Club, where the reception will take place.

A former journalist, Mr O'Shea set up the charity some 30 years ago and has presided over the growth of GOAL from a humble one-man operation to a major world charity that has operated development and emergency programmes in over 50 countries.