Over €80,000 has been raised to repatriate the remains of a ‘hugely popular' Kilkenny man after he died tragically in New Zealand.

25-year-old Maurice McCarthy died in the small town of Geraldine on New Zealand’s South Island last Monday – five years after making the move from Ireland to New Zealand.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to pay for the costs of Mr McCarthy’s repatriation and funeral and over 1,000 people have donated so far.

The money will be used to bring him home – with the extra money to be donated to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, which helps Irish families financially when a loved one passes away overseas. 

On the GoFundMe page, Mr McCarthy was described as someone who “touched so many lives”. 

"Maurice was a hugely popular character who was known and loved by so many in Ireland and abroad," the page said.

"Maurice made the move to New Zealand in October 2019 and to say he flourished there is an understatement.

"In his short 25 years, he touched so many lives and made so many journeys.

"It’s time now for his final journey back home to us in Mullinavat."

Mr McCarthy is survived by his parents, grandmother, siblings, niece and nephew.

The details of his funeral have not yet been announced.

Main image: Maurice McCarthy. Picture by: GoFundMe