Inside Track: Louth football group make generous donation to worthy cause

Andrew Rogers, father of the late Marie Claire Rogers, Séamus O'Hanlon, JP Rooney and Peter McGinnitty at the presentation of the cheque for €2,400, the money raised at the recent walk organised by the Louth Past Player Group | Louth GAA Past Players Group

placeholder image — Andrew Rogers, father of the late Marie Claire Rogers, Séamus O'Hanlon, JP Rooney and Peter McGinnitty at the presentation of the cheque for €2,400, the money raised at the recent walk organised by the Louth Past Player Group | Louth GAA Past Players Group

Inside Track with Joe Carroll

There was an excellent response to a walk organised by Séamus O’Hanlon and his Louth Past Players’ committee on the weekend before last.

As reported here last week, upwards of 100 took part, many of them former countymen, taking in a route from Clogherhead to Termonfeckin.

The purpose of the venture was to honour the name of Marie Claire Rogers, the former Louth footballer from Togher who died last year while on holiday in Australia, and to raise funds for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

The Trust was chosen as it played a leading role in the repatriation of Anne Marie’s remains.

It has been helping families in this way for the past 13 years, having been set up by Kevin and Eithne Bell.

The Newry couple lost their son, Kevin, in a New York accident in 2013, and it was because of the huge difficulties they encountered in bringing home the 26-year-old’s remains that, soon after his death, they set up the Trust.

Since then, the Trust has been responsible for helping in the return of the remains of a phenomenal 2,500, reaching out to close on 100 countries.

Work involves being in contact with a network of undertakers throughout the world, managing paperwork and arranging flights home.

In its first year in operation, the Trust completed seven repatriations. Last year, the figure was 330.

Now comes word that the Bells are stepping away from the everyday work with the Trust.

Both are in their early 70s, and speaking to the Irish News, Colin said that he and Eithne would still be involved, but confining themselves to cheque presentations and the like.

However, the Trust is to continue doing its valuable work, helping those at a time of distress.

The Louth Past Players’ committee is in its fifth year, staging the walk and other events and raising money for worthy causes.

Speaking over the weekend, Séamus O’Hanlon said they were delighted to give the Trust support.

“We know from speaking to the Rogers family, the wonderful work it does. Other families with a GAA connection are among the very many who’ve been helped over the years. It’s a worthwhile cause.”