Inaugural fundraiser in memory of young Abbeyknockmoy man

THE family of a young Abbeyknockmoy man who lost his life following a car crash last year are planning an inaugural fundraiser in his memory.

From the townland of Liss in Abbeyknockmoy, Simon died last October at the age of 22. His birthday is April 22 and Simon’s family plan to host a fundraiser each year to coincide with the birthday of the much-loved young man.

The inaugural Simon Quinn Memorial Fundraiser takes place in O’Donohoe’s Pub in Abbeyknockmoy on Sunday, April 20, with an auction and raffle will.

The funds will go to two charities — the ‘Thinking of You Memory Boxes’ charity and the Abbeyknockmoy and District Benevolent Fund.

The Abbeyknockmoy and District Benevolent Fund was established in 1987 to help local families through difficult times. Brendan Connolly, Simon’s grandfather, was one of its founding members and is still involved.

Through Simon’s final act as an organ donor, his family were made aware of the Thinking of You Memory Boxes charity. Simon’s family received great comfort in UHG from Gillian Shanahan, the Organ Donation Nurse Manager in the hospital.

Gillian runs the Thinking of You Memory Boxes alongside nursing staff in the hospital. Launched in 2023, the initiative provides support to patients in their final days, and to their families in bereavement and beyond. The initiative is solely funded through donations.

Each memory box has a Tree of Life symbol. They also have keepsake boxes for hairlocks, a purple jewellery pouch, and wildflower-seeded heart poems.

The Simon Quinn Truck Run will come as the second fundraiser in his memory in April of 2026, a nod to Simon’s interest in driving machinery and trucks.

• An iDonate page has been set up for the first Simon Quinn Memorial Fundraiser on Easter Sunday.

Anyone who would like to give a prize for the raffle can do so by emailing simonquinnmemorial@gmail.com.