FORMER Munster Rugby hooker Duncan Casey has lined out to show his support for the work of ActionAid Ireland and their emergency response to Covid-19 in the developing world.
Casey, who is a long-time commentator and campaigner on international issues, spoke about the importance of public support for agencies like ActionAid who are fighting the pandemic in some of the world’s poorest countries.
“International aid and charity work is vital but never more so since Coronavirus began to take hold. The simple securities we rely on to survive this virus, things like washing our hands and social distancing, these are luxuries if not impossibilities for people in the developing world. It doesn’t bear thinking about,” he said.
Casey, who played for Munster from 2013 to 2018 before finishing off his professional career with French club Grenoble in mid-2019, said he was thrilled but not surprised by a recent survey which showed Munster people to be the “most generous and informed” people in the country when it comes to overseas aid.
“Research done earlier in the year by ActionAid and other Irish aid charities found that Munster people are ahead of the game when it comes to our generosity for overseas aid and development. It makes me very proud to hear this. I care deeply about our role within the global community and especially in times like this.
“As the crisis has hit us here first, it’s a really uncertain time and while it’s natural to want to look inwards, it’s so important that we look beyond our own shores. A small donation from us can go a long way in these countries.
“You can feel very helpless in these times, it’s hard to know what you can do make a real difference. That’s why I think it’s important to support credible charities with track-records like ActionAid who are capable of delivering the most effective crisis response programmes in the countries that need them,” he concluded.
To support the work of ActionAid Ireland go to www.actionaid.ie or tel 01 8787911.
