Funds are being raised following the death of 25-year-old Maurice McCarthy who died in New Zealand on April 8 this year.
The funds will be used to bring McCarthy home to Garrandarragh, Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny from New Zealand, where he was living for the last five years.
The funds will also be used to alleviate the financial hardship of other families in this devastating situation.
So far there have been 910 donations, with funds reaching €59,090.
Donations are ongoing and can be made online, with a goal to reach a total of €65,000.
Hannah Lonergan, who is organising the fundraiser said: “Maurice was a hugely popular character who was known and loved by so many in Ireland and abroad.
“Maurice made the move to New Zealand in October 2019 and to say he flourished there is an understatement.
“In his short 25 years, he touched so many lives and made so many journeys. It’s time now for his final journey back home to us in Mullinavat.”
New Zealand
McCarthy was working with Woodley’s Agriculture Contracting in South Canterbury, New Zealand.
To celebrate McCarthy’s life, Woodley’s has posted on social media that it will hold a memorial service in New Zealand tomorrow (Friday, April 11).
The service will be available to join online at 2:30p.m (3:30a.m Irish time).
McCarthy is predeceased by his grandparents Jimmy and Anna McCarthy and his grandfather Maurice Harney.
He will be missed by his parents Seán and Eleanor Née Harney, sister Anne Marie Healy, and brothers Martin, James, John and Rory.