JOHN O’SHEA has made a heartwarming trip to Children’s Health Ireland in Crumlin along with the Europa League trophy.
The Europa League final is being held in the Aviva Stadium next month and O’Shea is an ambassador for the event.
The Ireland legend met with beaming children and posed alongside them with the trophy.
O’Shea said: “It was great to bring the trophy to CHI at Crumlin this morning and bring the trophy to the children.
“It is really what it is all about being able to raise spirits and help in potential times of need so it was brilliant to meet everyone, including the staff at the hospital who work tirelessly every day.
“Football has the power to do so much good and the excitement on the children’s faces when bringing the trophy here was a great example of that.
“It has been great to raise the excitement in Dublin this week ahead of the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday, May 22 and we can’t wait for next month’s showcase to begin.”
Paul Harding, Director of Operations, CHI at Crumlin, said: “We are so delighted to welcome John O’Shea, his FAI colleagues and UEFA Europa League trophy to CHI at Crumlin.
“We have made sure that our biggest football fans staying with us will have a chance to say hello to John and lift the UEFA Europa League trophy today!
“Visits like this really brighten up an otherwise tough time for patients in hospital and bring such joy to patients and their families, as well as to our staff. Our sincere thanks to FAI for providing this experience.”
O’Shea has been parading the trophy ahead of the final on May 22 where either Marseille or Atalanta will face Roma or Bayer Leverkusen in the capital.
O’Shea seemed to have finished up his duties with Ireland after taking charge on an interim basis for the March friendlies.
The Waterford native got a mixed reaction from fans after a 0-0 draw with Belgium and a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland.
However, it now looks like O’Shea will be picking up the interim role again for Ireland’s friendlies in June.
Marc Canham revealed that the FAI want O’Shea to continue the job with a permanent appointment pushed back even further.
The FAI had spoken of its desire to have someone in charge by February, Canham then said someone would be unveiled in early April before sources indicated that would happen this week.
It did not and the impression given that the FAI had someone lined up was clearly misleading, prompting Canham to take part in an in-house interview to try to explain what has happened with a process which has come in for heavy criticism from former Ireland players such as Damien Duff, Kevin Kilbane and James McClean.
Canham said: “The update today is that the process is not concluded and will remain ongoing. We recognise and realise that this is not the news that people wanted to hear today and that may be disappointed to hear.
“We’re absolutely committed and determined to find the best person for the men’s national team and men’s football and that will continue to be our aim.”