So when the chance came to see the global superstar in action for the first time, the sports mad Belfast boy, who has spent seven years waiting on a life-saving heart transplant, wasn’t even going to let an emergency dash to hospital during the week stop him from fulfilling a dream.
“Life’s too short to miss out on moments like this,” said dad Mairtin, who made a “mad dash” to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin once Dáithí had been released from a sudden overnight stay in hospital on Thursday morning to get there just in time for kick-off that night.
The last minute opportunity came courtesy of one of Dáithí’s greatest supporters, a charity worker from Wexford who has been helping him achieve dreams since they met just over a year ago.
Máirtín Mac Gabhann with his son Daithi Mac Gabhann
“Clodagh Mahon has been an angel for us,” said Mairtin. “She reached out on social media a year ago and said she would like to do what she could to help make some of Dáithí’s dreams come true. She does all her own charity work and has been a huge part in our lives this last year or so.
“She contacted us to say she’d been able to access a couple of tickets for the Republic of Ireland World Cup qualifier against Portugal from her brother-in-law and they were ours if we wanted to go.
“He’s football mad and seeing Ronaldo play has been one of his biggest wishes, but Dáithí had been in the hospice on Wednesday for a break. It’s something he really looks forward to, but he’d also had a major CT scan this week and took a really bad reaction.
“I’ve not seen him in so much discomfort for a long time. He went to hospital in an ambulance that night and we weren’t sure if the trip to Dublin was going to happen.
“We thought about it the next morning, but not for too long. Life’s short and you have to make the memories when you can. He was desperate to go so we jumped into the car and flew down the road.
“He was thrilled,” said Mairtin. “We are Liverpool fans, but the chance of seeing Ronaldo play was something he wasn’t going to miss despite the Manchester United links.”
Dáithí’s Ronaldo experience was cut shorter than expected with the Portuguese star sent off an hour into the match. The Republic were 2-0 ahead at that stage and went on to win the qualifier to keep their hopes of making the World Cup Finals in the US, Canada and Mexico next summer alive.
Football mad Dáithí Mac Gabhann made a last minute dash to the Aviva Stadium in Duiblin to see idol Cristiano Ronaldo in action in Portgual’s World CUp Qualifier against the Republic of Ireland.
News Catch Up – Friday 14 November
“He was raging!” said Mairtin. “He was delighted that the Republic of Ireland won the game, but was blaming the Irish players for getting his idol sent off!
“It’s a night he’ll never forget. We’re doing all we can to make his life full of memorable moments like this.
“Ronaldo might be Dáithí’s hero, but he’s my hero.
“We’re still waiting on that new heart,” Mairtin added, “but you can be sure Dáithí will be there in 2028 when the Euro finals come to Ireland if that new heart comes his way.”