DUBLIN DERBY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO CHRISTY DIGNAM
Tomorrow’s Dublin derby between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers will pay tribute to one of Dublin’s favourite sons, Christy Dignam, and raise money for those who cared for him at St Francis Hospice.
The much-loved Aslan frontman overcame significant personal challenges to uplift generations across our communities – Dubliners who will forever remember and miss him very dearly.
The heartbreak of Christy’s premature passing last week was felt right across Finglas, Dublin, and way beyond.
Christy was cherished by so many at both Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers, and to stand with his family and support those who gave him the care and love that he deserved in his final days at St Francis Hospice.
To that end, Bohemians will don a one-off jersey for the game in his honour, which is now available to pre-order, with ALL profits going to St Francis Hospice.
The jersey can now be pre-ordered from our online store.
(Note: The deadline for orders is strictly midnight Sunday night and orders are expected to be shipped in approximately five weeks.)
In addition, collections will be held among both sets of supporters in attendance at Dalymount Park with all money raised going to St Francis Hospice.
Members of the Dignam family will be in attendance tomorrow, and Christy’s daughter Kiera said:
To all at Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers, we have been blown away by the support shown to us by Bohs and Rovers.
My Dad was a big supporter of the League of Ireland and would absolutely love being included on a jersey and to be honoured in such a way.
We cannot thank you enough for your generosity towards St Francis Hospice, who do endless work to help people in the position we unfortunately found ourselves in.
We will be forever grateful for this gesture in memory of my Dad.
Many thanks,
Kiera Dignam and family
Bohemian FC COO Daniel Lambert said:
We ae delighted to able to annouce this one-off jersey in memory of Christy Dignam and hopefully raise a large amount of money for St Francis Hospice.
We would like to especially thank Des Kelly Interiors for permitting this change and being so supportive and to O’Neill’s for turning it around in days thanks to their manufacturing capability in Ireland.
With the support of both the family and the band, with all proceeds to such a worthwhile cause, and with a minute’s silence before the game and Aslan over the PA for the night, it will add something very special to an already special fixture: The Dublin Derby remembering a Dublin hero.
Christy’s Aslan bandmates – Joe Jewell, Alan Downey and Billy McGuinness – said:
We are overwhelmed to see our friend, our lead singer, that we so sadly miss, being remembered in such an honourable way by a team that meant so much to him.
Thank you to all involved who have supported and helped in doing this for Christy’s family, for ourselves and for St Francis Hospice.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!
Joe, Alan, Billy
Fintan Fagan, CEO of St Francis Hospice Dublin, said:
Thank you to Bohemian Football Club for this initiative to help raise vital funds for St Francis Hospice Dublin. The specialist palliative care services that our hospice team provides for the 700,000 people who live in North Dublin and the surrounding counties enables people with life-limiting illness to achieve a higher quality of life and greater comfort and dignity through symptom management.
Last year, St Francis Hospice provided specialist palliative care for 1,932 patients and their families, a 58% increase over patient numbers just eight years ago.
There is no charge to patients or their families for any of St Francis Hospice’s services. This year, we need to raise €4.5m to supplement our HSE funding, making the support of our community with initiatives like this one is very welcome.
