Bundoran man’s fundraiser a heartfelt thank you to Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust

It is no easy thing when any member of a family passes away suddenly, but when it is unexpected and in another part of the world, the logistics and costs become manifold, adding to the obvious grief and pain that already exist. 

And that is exactly what happened to Bundoran resident and a former secretary of neighbouring GAA club Melvin Gaels, Seamus McMorrow when his brother Micheál who was living in New York, died, at just 55 years of age, on July 21. 

Seamus explained that it was only thanks to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, that the McMorrow family were able to bring his brother’s remains back from New York to Kinlough for his Funeral Mass last month.

Micheál was the eldest of a family of five raised in Augharrow Tullaghan on the family farm. He attended the Vocational school in Ballyshannon. 

There were summer jobs in Bundoran, and later Sligo and Manorhamilton and he even had a stint at selling fruit in Bundoran and Ballyshannon.

With the harsh reality of little or no long term employment opportunities, like so many of his generation and those that went before, he headed off to New York 35 years ago.

But home was never far from his mind and there were the annual trips home, or for this mum's funeral seen years ago or that of his Dad five years ago. 

“Your homeland isn't the same when your parents are gone,” Seamus explained

“When Micheál died suddenly in July in New York we were shocked and saddened and wanted to bring him home. I was told to contact the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust and six days later Micheál was in Tullaghan.

“When I handed all this over to the Trust I was told and found out later that Micheál was on an unclaimed bodies list in New York. He was on it for nine days. If he was on it for another five days and not claimed he would have been buried in a 135 acre field that's a graveyard for the unknown.

“Only for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, Micheál is now buried in St Aidan's Cemetery Kinlough and not the 135 acre field of the unknown in New York. I will be forever grateful to them.”

The Trust have repatriated some 45 bodies home to their loved ones Donegal. 

20 months ago, Ballyshannon native Kieran Whelan was repatriated to his hometown. Then the Ballyshannon community rallied and a successful fundraising campaign for The KBRT..

Ironically, the Trust which aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the body of a loved one who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances back to the island of Ireland, was inspired in June of 2013, when the Bell family themselves received an outpouring of support, when son Kevin also died suddenly in New York.

As a permanent legacy to Kevin, the Bell family decided to use the funds to establish a charity to help other families who find themselves in a similar situation and this they have done since, through donations. 

Seamus and family said: “ It was unbelievable help they did in bringing Micheál's body from New York back to Kinlough for his Funeral Mass, home to his beloved Leitrim. We cannot thank them enough for their support in a very difficult situation.”

As a result Micheál’s final journey was able to take place to St. Aidan's Church, Kinlough for Funeral Mass on Sunday August 6, with burial afterwards in the local cemetery, where sister Cathriona (Manorhamilton), brothers Brian (Tullaghan), Sean (Tullaghan) and Seamus (Bundoran), brother in law Kevin, sister in law Annette, niece Katie, nephew Luke, Aunt Margaret Gallagher (Laughta), cousins and extended family and friends could bid farewell to the deceased.

In wanting to publicly acknowledge the Trust’s assistance not just to the McMorrow family, but so many other families that the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust has helped down the years, Seamus has asked for a small donation at the link below so that the Trust can continue assist in bringing loved ones, back to Ireland, from distant shores.

You can donate by linking here:

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/SeamusMcMorrow

Donations can also be made to a box located at Kinlough Post Office, which is situated at the Post Office in Spar and donations can be given through undertaker, Patsy McGloin in Cliffoney.