Martin cadden monster tractor run expects to be one of the biggest ever seen in ireland

The Martin Cadden Monster Tractor Run in aid of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT) will take place tomorrow, Saturday, April 18, from Mullahoran GFC grounds starting at 1pm sharp. It is in memory of the young Loughduff man, Martin, who lost his life in a road accident in New Zealand on January 2, 2014, when the car he was driving, veered off the road and collided with a tree.

Some weeks back, Sean McMahon spoke to the family in their home ahead of the run. We bring you the piece again ahead of tomorrow's massive fundraiser, also scroll down for more details on the run itself...

A road tragedy on the other side of the world which claimed the life of a young Loughduff man has inspired the local community to help his bereaved family celebrate his short life. 

January 2, 2014 - in the sitting room of their Middletown farmhouse, Ann Cadden recalls the day that she and her husband Michael heard the dreadful news that their son Martin had passed away in New Zealand. The family were sitting down for the meal at a wedding in the Ambrook Hotel in Mullingar, when they were requested to go to reception.
“Something came into my head about Martin,” recalls Ann of walking to the reception area where a young garda in plain clothes stood. He prefaced the grim news, with the words, “There is no easy way to tell you both this. Martin was in a bad accident and he was killed.”
The car which he was driving, veered off the road and collided with a tree.
From the moment life for the Caddens who adored their son and brother had forever changed.
As a journalist welcomed into the home of a family grieving for their only son, and hearing a tearful mother relate her grief, words are inadequate. Grief can’t be conveyed in an article.
Into this well of loss, a guardian angel of sorts arrived in the guise of the remarkable Colin Bell from Newry. Colin could empathise with the Caddens, having lost his own son Kevin, killed in a hit and run incident in New York eighteen months earlier.
Colin put the impressive powers of the 'Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust’ at the disposal of the Cadden family. They are eternally grateful that all the stops were pulled out to have their son returned home to Dublin Airport within eight days.
The entire repatriation procedure was completed by the trust at no expense to the Caddens, either financially or emotionally, and this provided great comfort to them in their time of great distress.
Sitting in the livingroom of their Middletown home, Ann explains that Colin was moved to help them, stressing, “He would never want another family to go through what they went through. 
“He said it was not the money – it was the paper work - £40,000 sterling had been raised in Newry in a day and half [to bring Kevin home to Ireland].”
Having brought his own son home for burial in Ireland, Colin started the repatriation trust with funds left over. 
“Colin was brilliant and arranged everything to get him [Martin] home. We went to Dublin Airport and took him home from there,” explained Michael Cadden. 
Michael had last been speaking to his son Martin just two days before he died, and had been talking about coming home in May.
“All he ever wanted to do was to drive big machinery,” said Michael. “There were fields out there that contained hundreds of acres.”
Martin worked with Ellesmere Agriculture in New Zealand, and made a great impression on his colleagues there. The company’s managing director Tim Ridgen, wrote the Cadden’s family a moving letter in which he described Martin as a top machinery operator, who also had a great affinity for livestock. He also mentioned the fact that Martin’s smile could light up the whole room.
One passage of the letter read: “He will never be forgotten in our business – he will be dearly missed by me and my family and all work colleagues and the community he lived in while in New Zealand.” 
This sense of loss is shared by the community in Mullahoran. 
Upon news of Martin’s untimely death the community immediately rallied to support the Cadden family in every way possible. They continue to do so, as Michael and Ann Cadden and their two daughters, Mary and Roisin are surrounded by caring neighbours. 
It prompts Ann Cadden to remark, “We have a mighty community in Mullahoran.”
Neighbours and friends are demonstrating their might, and appreciation to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust by staging Ireland’s biggest ever Tractor Run. It will generate necessary funds for the repatriation fund and also serve to honour Martin’s memory.
“It is nice to be able to celebrate his life and help someone else.”

Tractor run

All tractors are welcome for this Saturday’s run. The route the tractor run will take is Kilcogy, Freeduff, Granard, Mullinaghta, Gowna, by Martin’s house and back to the park. Registration will start from 10am and refreshments will be served before and after the tractor run. Admission is voluntary. A passenger will be allowed on a tractor if it has a factory-fitted seat. Spectators are invited to the pitch or they can watch tractors passing along the route. For more information contact Mary on 086-0781525.