B

Brave Killarney teenager Ian O’Connell was already a hero to the people of Killarney but last weekend his positive message reached a whole new audience; it even touched one of the biggest superstars in the world.

Ian suffered serious injuries to his neck and spine when he fell from his bike in the National Park last August and is currently paralysed from the shoulders down. On Friday night the 16-year-old student from Pinewood appeared on RTÉ’s Late Late Show alongside his father Michael to talk about his accident and ongoing recovery.

The nation was blown away by Ian’s positivity in the face of such tremendous adversity with viewers taking to social media in their thousands to express their admiration for the plucky Killarney youngster. The following night, Ian was attending an event at Dublin’s 3 Arena and bumped into a very famous fan: MMA legend and one of the most successful Irish athletes of all time, Conor McGregor.

In a heart-warming Instagram post which has received over 1.5 million likes, McGregor explained the chance meeting. “Watching the Late Late show last night and on comes this young man!” he wrote.

“I was blown away by him and his attitude to life and in facing adversity! Then tonight, by complete chance, I bumped into him at an event and end up getting to watch the main event fight ringside with him! Thank you Ian it was great to meet you my brother, you are some man! Your quote literally blew me away! ‘If you can’t stand up, STAND OUT!’ I think I speak for every Irish man and woman that watched you on the Late Late show last night by saying you are a true inspiration to us! Thank you brother.”

Donations to the Ian O’Connell Fund poured in over the weekend and at the time of going to print, it had reached €42,000. The current goal is €50,000. Ian’s family hope the money raised will allow them to make important changes to their home in light of Ian’s return from rehab. To make a contribution, visit Ian’s GoFundMe page or select the Ian O’Connell Fund when registering for the upcoming Ring of Kerry Cycle.