Bereaved Laois family launch fundraiser for Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust

The broken hearted Laois family of a beloved young man who died in New Zealand, are launching a fundraiser to say thank you to the Irish charity who helped to bring him home.

The family of David McDonald, from Derrydavey, Mountmellick, will hold a music filled pub fundraiser in his memory this May, to raise funds for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. They are also launching a Gofundme so people can donate online.

David died aged 37 following a brief illness, on January 9, 2024 in Auckland City Hospital, with his family by his side.

David with his three sisters Orla, Lizzie and Anna, nephew Billy and niece Lucy. 

The beloved only son of Peter and Elsie, he is also mourned by his three sisters, Anna, Lizzie and Orla, beloved nephews Billy and Jack and niece Lucy. Anna who was pregnant at the time of his death, delivered a little niece he will sadly never meet, baby Annie. Many local tributes were paid to the much loved young man.

David was living in New Zealand, working as a manager in Stantec Engineering in Auckland, and settled into life with partner Flavio Villani.

His sister Lizzie Kirwan spoke this week to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"David had a great job and a great life, he just didn't get to live it long enough. He was gone 11 years, first to Australia and then New Zealand where he met Flavio. He was lovely, they were happy. David had it hard until he went there. He never came out as gay at home, only with the family. There he blossomed. Life changed for him, he accepted himself. 

David with his partner Flavio.

"The last time he was home was for our sister Anna's wedding in 2022. We got to meet Flavio, we could see they were so happy. They stayed here for six weeks, and toured around Ireland. He brought Lizzie's children Billy and Lucy on a 'yes' day, taking them to Ken Blacks. He said he was making up for the times he was not here," she said.

David had had unexplained seizures for some time, only alerting his family each time when he was discharged from hospital, so not to worry them.

"At a festival on a beach, he told Flavio he didn't feel well, an ambulance came, and he had a massive seizure. He was in hospital for two days and it was looking serious so Flavio rang us. That was New Year's Eve morning at 6am.  My mam and Orla flew out on New Year's Day," Lizzie said.

Sadly David passed away a week later. A memorial service was held at Kāhui St David's in Kyber Pass, on Sunday, January 14, where David's work colleagues and family and friends in New Zealand got a chance to say goodbye and pay tributes.  His work colleagues also brought his mother and sister to see his office, so highly did they all think of David.

Then the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust took over the arrangements, worry and cost of quickly bringing his remains back home.

"They took on the costs of everything. They had the expertise, they know what they are doing. Because of that, we got to spend four nights waking David at home. 

"As much as it was sad and awful, it was lovely. Monday night was just immediate family, Tuesday was the wider family and then Wednesday and Thursday was the wake. We stayed up every night with him. I do say it to anyone now, there's no panic. Keep them at home, once they are gone they will never come home.

"We had people coming up to us after his death offering to start a Gofundme, but the Kevin Bell trust said they wouldn't be able to help in that case, so we said no, we'd leave the expertise to them," Lizzie said.

The local community had rallied around them from day one of that call from New Zealand. 

David with his mam Elsie and dad Peter.

"The Rock GAA did the parking, the neighbours came, there was food landing every day, so much support. It didn't stop until the funeral was over and done, for 20 days, it was unbelieveable," David's sister said.

St Vincent's community nursing unit where Elsie McDonald was a seamstress for many years, and David, Anna and Lizzie had also worked, did a guard of honour for his funeral. 

Over a year on, the family are still deeply grieving their loss. Last October Orla got married, an event that David was planning to come home for, making it a bittersweet day. 

"It's hard, it will never be right. They keep going. My mam minds the kids, does her sewing. Dad goes about on his tractor, happy when he is busy," Lizzie said.

They are now planning to raise money to support the work of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust to help others in similar difficult circumstances.

"At David's wake, I did think that if everyone who came to the house only donated €5 it would make a fortune for the trust.

"So we are having a night in Moloney's Bar. There will be music by Transmitter from 6pm until 9pm, then from Billy Meehan until closing, on Saturday, May 10. Our goal is to make enough for the trust, but we want people to come out and enjoy it. The music, the food, the drink, because that is what David would do if he were here," Lizzie said.

The McDonald family have just launched a Gofundme online fundraiser, with a target of €10,000.

In it they describe David's joy of life, "from his echoing belly laugh and his big bear hugs, fun and excitement was never far behind David", and ask for support for his memorial fundraiser. 

The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, a registered charity, was founded out of a family tragedy when, in June 2013, Kevin Bell died suddenly in New York. Following an outpouring of support from Kevin’s friends, family and colleagues, a significant amount of funds were raised to repatriate his remains back to Ireland. 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.

Since 2013, 296 people have been flown home with the help of the trust, including 19 to Laois with David McDonald amongst them.