Moate man to launch vintage truck at tractor run in memory of late Laois man

Gerry Farrell from Moate has spent the past two years customising his vintage truck which he will showcase outside the Post Office on Main Street, Moate, tomorrow morning (Friday) at 9am.

Gerry decided that he wanted to have the vehicle which is a 1955 Commer lorry ready to take part in a tractor and truck run in memory of the late Seán Clear from Laois who was tragically killed in an accident whilst working in New Zealand last year.

Gerry will launch the vintage lorry in Moate tomorrow before stopping in Doon, Ferbane, Cloghan, Birr and Roscrea and then on Saturday he will join the tractor and truck run in Ballacolla, Co. Laois.

Gerry's son's wife is a first cousin of the late Mr Clear so Gerry decided to help out to raise funds for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

The truck and tractor run will take place in Laois this Saturday to mark the one-year anniversary of Mr Clear's passing. Truck parking is in Tirlan yard prior to the event with registration in Caoch O' Leary's pub, Ballacolla.

Participants will be going through Abbeyleix from the Ballacolla Road before taking a right onto the Ballinakill Road. The run is scheduled to leave Ballacolla at 5pm, with Abbeyleix the next town on the run, followed by Ballinakill and Knock Parish, Durrow, Johnstown, Rathdowney, Clough village and back to Ballacolla via Farren Cross.

The tractor run will be leaving after the trucks and the route is different. All will leave Ballacolla heading towards Abbeyleix and then on to Ballacolla again. Registration for tractors will be held at Robin Talbots field across from the GAA pitch in Ballacolla from 3pm.

Gerry worked on the design of the customised 1955 Commer lorry and his son Gary completed all the fabrication works. He said that the tractor run fundraiser gave them a deadline to finish the lorry.

Following the tractor run, Gerry wishes to exhibit his display of vintage saws that are over a hundred years old and display them in different rural areas in the midlands. Gerry founded Moate Vintage Club along with Joe Grouden and Brian Murray in 1991.

All donations from the launch of Gerry's vintage lorry and the tractor and truck run will go towards the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

The tractor run in memory of the late Mr Clear was organised by his friends and family. An online fundraiser was set up on idonate.ie entitled, 'Friends of Seán Clear.' On the fundraising page, the organisers of the fund said that they lost their beloved Seán while he was living his dream, working and travelling the world.

Sean was killed in a tragic accident in New Zealand and 'Friends of Seán Clear' said that the realisation of how far away from home he was, was both daunting and heartbreaking.

“We were lucky to be able to contact The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust quite quickly, one phone call to Colin got the ball rolling to bring our boy home. We can never thank them enough, for the help they were to us, at the worst time of our lives. All we can do is ensure that there are funds in place for the next family who find themselves in these horrific circumstances.”

To donate to the 'Friends of Seán Clear' fundraiser visit idonate.ie/raffle/FriendsofSeanClear. For more information see Friendsofseánclear's Facebook page.

The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the body of a loved one who has died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances back to Ireland.