€12,200 raised by Carndonagh community to thank hospitals for amazing care
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Donegal dad-of-three thanks everyone who has come to his aid following traumatic brain injury
A Carndonagh man who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a serious farm accident last year has thanked his family, friends and the local community after €12,200 was raised for three hospitals which played a vital role in his recovery.
Cathal Porter was left with a traumatic brain injury following the accident in August 2025 and spent months in hospital undergoing treatment and rehabilitation. He is incredibly fortunate to be alive and has since made a very good recovery.
Dad-of-three Cathal, who works as an SNA, said he wanted to give something back to the hospitals and the staff who had supported him with amazing care through an incredibly difficult period.
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A raffle and charity coffee morning held at the Colgan Hall last month helped raise the impressive sum, which has been donated to the hospitals which cared for him following his accident.
He said the staff at Beaumont and Letterkenny went above and beyond in their care, both immediately after the accident and in the months of treatment and rehabilitation that followed.
A total of €5,050 was presented to the National Neuroscience Centre at Beaumont Hospital, where Cathal received vital care in the immediate aftermath of his injury.
A further €2,650 was presented to staff at the Stroke and Medical Rehab Unit at Letterkenny University Hospital, which played an important role in his rehabilitation.
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Cathal and his wife Karen also presented €4,500 to staff at Surgical 2 at Letterkenny University Hospital. In addition to the monetary donation, a number of items were also donated to Surgical 2.
“I can’t thank the staff enough for the way in which they treated me. They couldn’t have done enough for me, and I want to highlight all the good they have done for me.”
Cathal also paid tribute to everyone who supported the fundraiser, saying he would be “forever indebted” to the people who helped him on his long road to recovery.
“The hospitals were amazing, and the people who donated to the causes were amazing too,” he said.
He reserved particular thanks for his family and friends who helped organise the coffee morning and raffle, as well as the wider community whose generosity made the €12,200 donation possible.
“The majority of the work was done by others on my behalf,” Cathal explained.
He said he could not thank his family, friends and the local community enough for the “amazing support” they had shown him and his family throughout his recovery.