News
GoFundMe set up for Firies man who died in Australia
SAD PASSING: Crohane O’Grady passed away in Australia last week. His family have praised the efforts of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust in getting him home to Kerry.
By Sean Moriarty
EXCLUSIVE
The family of well-known Firies man Crohane O’Grady who passed away suddenly in Australia last Saturday have praised the efforts of Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust in getting the remains of their late father back home.
Crohane died while on an extended visit to his daughter Bernie who runs a farm near Cohuna, about three hours north of Melbourne.
His final wish was to be buried alongside his parents in Abbeyisland Cemetery near Caherdaniel.
In recent years the 63-year-old spent three months every year in Australia so he could be with his grandchildren, but this year he became ill. He was hospitalised in Australia late last month and was diagnosed with leukaemia and unfortunately succumbed to the illness.
The family have set up a fundraising page online to help get Crohan home, GoFundMe: ‘Bring Crohane home’, with the excess money going back to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, a charity which helps repatriate bodies of loved ones from all over the world.
“He went there every year, he loved the sunshine and spending Christmas with his grandchildren,” his daughter Theresa told the Killarney Advertiser. “This year he went a few months early as he stood for his granddaughter’s confirmation and was preparing to return home around the time he got ill.”
Crohane’s remains are due in Dublin Airport around 7pm tomorrow (Saturday) ahead of a wake in Firies on Sunday evening.
His is survived by his children Theresa, Bernie and Brendan, former wife Phil and partner Christine Barket.