THE 11-YEAR-OLD son of Anthony Foley has launched a different kind of Facebook call-out in his dad’s memory.
The Facebook page – dubbed #8masses4no8 – says that the family has been overwhelmed by the support it has received in the last week, and urges fans to attend mass for the next eight Sundays in tribute to Foley, whose birthday would have been this coming Sunday.
Foley’s son, also named Tony, has asked “that this page be set up in his memory” according to the Facebook page.
Munster head coach Anthony Foley passed away suddenly and tragically in France last week from a heart complaint.
“The number 8 (Foley’s former position) is, of course, a special number for Tony and his family but the eight Sundays also bring us up to that special family time of year, Christmas,” the page continues.
So, Tony has asked if you would, in his Dad’s memory, like and share this page. As you do that, tag eight Facebook friends to go to Mass over the next eight Sundays and, at that Mass, light a candle for a loved one or, indeed, for Anthony, take a photo of that lit candle and post it to this page using the hashtag #8masses4no8.
Olive Foley, Anthony’s wife and Tony’s mother, who delivered a powerful eulogy at her husband’s funeral last Friday, confirmed that the tribute page was her eldest son’s idea.
“Tony was inspired by what he had experienced in Thomond Park and came up with the idea of getting people to go to Mass to pray for deceased family or friends, including his father, in the run up to Christmas,” she said.
It’s a lovely idea. Tony even created the hashtag, edited the image for the page to include the hashtag and launched the page today.
It’s getting a great response and he’s delighted. It’s a really positive way of dealing with what has happened and the more people that support it the better.
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