An elderly farmer who was killed in a horrific road crash in his tractor had bought the machine to help raise tens of thousands of euro for charity.
Tragic Willie Wilson bought and refurbished the Massey Ferguson 135 tractor to go on tractor runs across his native Donegal.
He went everywhere in the machine but sadly died when it was collision with a car in the early hours of Friday morning near Drumoghill.
There has been a huge outpouring of grief for the popular 68-year-old who was well-known in the area for his help with charitable causes.
Members fo his local ‘Tractor Run’ posted a touching tribute to Willie after he died instantly in the crash at 6.30am on the main Letterkenny to Lifford Road.
They recalled how Willie was delighted to be part of a charity tractor run at Christmas.
Willie behind the wheel of his Massey Ferguson.
“It’s good to be able to help those less fortunate’ he said at a charity tractor run we were part of at Christmas,” one recalled.
A spokesman for the Tractor Run said Willie, a single man from Fr Arnold Terrace in Manorcunningham, found a new lease of life doing up his tractor and giving to those less well-off than himself.
“He found a new lease of life and was chuffed having got himself a Massey Ferguson 135 and enjoyed nothing more than to do his bit in helping raise monies for worthy causes by taking part in various charity tractor runs throughout Donegal and spent days between them tidying up his tractor.
“We extend our respects and sympathies to family and relatives and may he rest peacefully.”
A Garda investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
“It is with great sadness that we awoke this morning to learn of the sudden death of one of the Lagan Valley’s true characters. William Wilson known better as Willie, died following a road traffic accident this morning at an area known as Carrick just below Drumoghill on the main Lifford to Letterkenny route in Donegal.
“He found a new lease of life and was chuffed having got himself a Massey Ferguson 135 and enjoyed nothing more than to do his bit in helping raise monies for worthy causes by taking part in various charity tractor runs throughout Donegal and spent days between them tidying up his tractor.
“We extend our respects and sympathies to family and relatives and may he rest peacefully.”
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