Write a commentA Belfast Gaelic Athletic Club has decided this year that instead of seeking a sponsor for their 2021 away jerseys that they would instead highlight the work of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust based in Newry. Greencastle Wolfe Tones GAC will proudly sport the KBRT logo on their new jerseys.
The KBRT was founded in 2013 in memory of Newry native, Kevin Bell, who was killed in tragic circumstances in New York. Kevin played football for Newry Mitchells and Abbey CBS as well as being an accomplished Irish dancer and fluent Irish speaker. KBRT repatriate the bodies of loved ones who have died overseas and their services are available to anyone on the island of Ireland. To date they have repatriated the remains of over 1000 individuals to their families.
Announcing the decision the Club's PRO Tiarnán Millar who went to school and the Gaeltacht with Kevin said "Wolfe Tones GAC are delighted to announce that we will not be seeking a shirt sponsor for our new away jerseys for the 2021 season and instead, the Committee has agreed to highlight the excellent work carried out by the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT), a Newry based charity which aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the bodies of loved ones who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances back to Ireland."
Tiarnán adds "Wolfe Tones were refounded in 2019 after being dormant since 1970. We're based in Greencastle which is just off the Shore Road in North Belfast We're managed by former Antrim and Ulster player Enda McAtamney."
The club have a few connections with Newry, Tiarnán from the town while Crossmaglens Gavin Cumiskey and Rostrevor's Tony Carroll are also involved.
Tiarnán added "We're hoping Wolfe Tones is going to be part of the Greencastle community for years to come and it would have been something Kevin would have supported given his love of GAA, Irish dance and the language."
Families in North Belfast and Newtownabbey have been helped by the KBRT and Wolfe Tones GAC will also be running a fundraising event when Covid-19 restrictions allow with a percentage of revenues raised through the sales of replica shirts will be donated to the Trust.
In the meantime, supporters and members of Wolfe Tones GAC can make a donation to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust and learn about the work that they do by visiting their website KEVINBELLREPATRIATIONTRUST.COM
