Run to remember Joeie’s ‘wealth of kindness’

A young Mullagh father who died having just carried out a mission of mercy for his neighbours, will be honoured with a motorbike, truck and tractor run on Sunday next.

Joeie Smith was a local hero during the pandemic and had just finished collecting groceries and medicines for his more vulnerable neighbours when he was killed in a traffic accident.

"Joeie was a very kind and popular man and was always helping out his neighbours," says Catherine McGarry, secretary of the Run for Joeie committee.

"At the start of the pandemic he wrote out a little note he put into the letter box of his neighbours saying he would go and get messages, groceries or medicines for them if they needed it."

Tragically, on 19th March last year, he had just come back from doing that, when he was killed in a traffic accident.

"He left a wealth of kindness and inspiration behind."

His neighbours and family now want to honour him with a fundraising drive on Sunday.

The event, which will feature motorbikes, trucks, cars and tractors, as well as vintage vehicles will raise fund for Friends of Navan Hospital, St Vincent's Hospital, The National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire and The Mullagh Community project.

"We are organising the fundraiser as our act of kindness and a tribute to Joe's memory," says Catherine.

Joeie, who was originally from Carrickspringen, Moynalty is survived by his wife Caroline (Caz), children Jamie Leigh, Kaitlin Tyler, Brooke, Blake and Ariella, his parents Paddy and Martina and his sisters Tracy, Nicola and Stephanie .

Joeie loved motorbikes and had bought his own around two years prior to his accident.

"His first outing was at a ride out in memory of my brother, Michael," says Catherine.

He was also very interested in Reiki energy healing and had helped a lot of people with it.

The money raised on Sunday will go towards Friends of Our Lady's Hospital, Navan and St Vincent's Hospital as Joeie's father, Paddy is being treated by both hospitals as he awaits a liver transplant.

Many of Joeie's friends in the motor bike community have needed the help of the National Rehabilitation Hospital.

"We are also raising funds for the Mullagh Community Project because Joeie's family are part of the that community and his children use the hall and play football there. The community have also been very good to the family since his death," says Catherine.

The trucks, bikes and vintage cars and tractors will take to the road on Sunday, leaving Pairc Ri in Kells. Registration is at 10.30am and the drive off at 1pm.

There will also be a raffle on the morning with prizes donated by local businesses.