COMMUNITY UNITES
HUNDREDS GATHER AT VIGIL AS TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR MARK DUFFY AND RESCUE 116 COLLEAGUES
IN THE WAVE-WASHED village of Blackrock, friends and neighbours of Captain Mark Duffy have come together to offer support for his family as the search continues for the missing coastguard helicopter Rescue 116.
The tragedy, which has robbed Ireland of four genuine heroes, has resonated around the world in coastal communities and among rescue workers who know the enormous sacrifice that the coastguard crew and their families have made.
As Blackrock’s St Patrick’s Day parade, which was to celebrate ‘Great Irish Lives’, was cancelled as a mark of respect to Mark and his colleagues, villagers were joined by many from further afield who wanted to pay tribute to four great Irish people who had given their lives to keep our coasts and mountains safe.
No tribute was more heartfelt than that of Captain Duffy’s wife Herimone, who has described the pilot, who was awarded for his bravery, as her hero and soul mate.
The local coastguard provided a guard of honour as Hermione and their two children walked around the circle of people gathered at the Millennium Sundial sculpture at Blackrock promenade on Friday night.
Flags hung at half mast at coastguard stations around the Irish coast and in other coastal communities around the globe as tributes were paid to the Rescue 116 crew, pilots Captain Mark Duffy, Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, and winch crew Paul Ormsby and Ciaran Smith.
The skies wept on a weekend that is usually associated with the joyful celebration of everything that is good about Ireland. And the very best of Ireland - those who put their lives daily on the line for others - were remembered and prayed for as the search for the three missing crew members of the Irish Coastguard helicopter Rescue 116, including Blackrock pilot Mark Duffy.
The father-of-two’s home village of Blackrock cancelled their planned St Patrick’s Day parade as a mark of respect for their missing friend. And instead, the people of the village where Mark was closely aligned to the community and its activities held a poignant candle light vigil at the Sundial Millennium monument, close to the sea.
Parish priest Fr Padraig Keenan talked of circles of families and friends surrounding the Duffy family. Four special candles, representing those lost in the Rescue 116 tragedy, were joined by one lit for the Duffys. Fr Keenan acknowledged the families’ feelings of ‘ being in the unknown’ as they wait for news of the three missing personnel.
A guard of honour was formed by the local Coastguard as Mark’s wife, Hermione and their two children, walked around the circle that had formed as people offered their support. An Our Father was followed by a lament played by local musicians and the vigil ended with applause.
Perhaps the most poignant tribute to Mark came on Wednesday last from his wife, Hermione who thanked everyone for their support. Writing on her Facebook page, she said: ‘ Thank you for the huge outpouring for my beloved Mark, my hero, my soulmate my right hand but we are both ciotogs (left handed) my babies Daddy. Our hero. I am overwhelmed by the love and compassion being expressed. Truly thank you our children will be so comforted by everything’.
Tributes to the crew of Rescue 116 were made at the March meeting of Louth County Council yesterday (Monday) when councillors paused at the 116th minute of the meeting and gave a broad round of applause.
The unique gesture had been proposed by Cllr. Tom Cunningham who offered his ‘deepest sympathies to the families of Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, Captain Mary Duffy, winchman Paul Ormsby, and winch operator Ciaran Smith.’
He said: ‘I would like to express heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and families of crew 116, who paid the ultimate price in service to the state. The people of Ireland should be very proud to have the men and women of Crew 116 watching over them.
‘Having been on many search and rescue and exercise missions when I was a member of Clogherhead Lifeboat, I witnessed at first hand the professionalism and dedication of Rescue 116. After Captain Fitzpatrick was laid to rest on Saturday, I hope her fellow crew members will be found and recovered as quickly as possible.’
He proposed that councillors show their support of the missing crew and solidarity with their loved ones with a round of applause on the 116th minute of the council meeting, which all members agreed to.
Cllr. Oliver Tully said the tragedy was especially poignant in Louth not only because the crew had only been on active duty in this area two days before their helicopter went missing, but also because Captain Mark Duffy is from Blackrock.
Cllr. Frank Godfrey praised the ‘incredible work’ done by the crew, while Cllr. Maria Doyle, who had attended the vigil for Captain Duffy in Blackrock on Friday night described it as ‘ poignant and solemn.’
She asked that everyone keep Captain Duffy’s family, especially his wife and two children in their thoughts over the next few weeks.
The crew of Rescue 116 were also remembered around the country at St Patrick’s Day parades, particularly in Dundalk (see page 20). In addition, Dundalk Sub Aqua group decided not to take part in the Dundalk parade. In a statement, the group said: ‘Dundalk Sub Aqua Club was founded in 2001, and has always enjoyed taking part in the parade. Sadly this year we will not be taking part, as a mark of respect for our colleagues in the Coastguards. The whole community were shocked and saddened when we heard of the tragic accident with Rescue 116.
‘Our club search and rescue unit has been asked to stand by and be available to assist in the search for the missing crewmen if necessary’.
Tributes have also been flooding in from all over the country, including from across the border. In a Facebook
post, PSNI officers from Newry and Mourne said the crew were ‘ true heroes’ and recalled their contact with Mark.
‘Mark Duffy was a gentleman. I met him on several occasions, my thoughts are with his family, the families of his lost colleagues and the entire Irish Coastguard.
He and his colleagues were not only on call for rescues but for the odd community event! Rescue 116, under Marks command, came to Mourne Mountain Adventure in 2015. The crew engaged with the kids, the leaders and organisers.
‘I often met Mark when 116 landed in Newry with a casualty heading to Daisy Hill and was always greeted with a wave. These guys were true heroes.
‘Ours thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and colleagues’.
In his St Patrick’s Day message, Archbishop Eamon Martin said: ‘ Today I especially bring to mind the bravery, commitment and dedication of the women and men of our own search and rescue services at home. Our prayers are with the families of the crew of Rescue 116’.
And before Saturday’s Six Nations game against England, there was a minute’s silence to remember the crew of Rescue 116.
The colleagues of the lost crew, who were based at Dublin Airport, thanked all those who had given their support to the workmates who continue the brave work of the Irish Coastguard.
‘During what is our darkest hours, we find ourselves truly humbled by the outpouring of love and support both here at home and globally. We simply cannot answer all of your messages, but rest assured that we read them all.
‘ They are a source of solace and inspiration to us. We ask you to continue to offer support and spare a thought for our missing friends and their families, and of course all of our friends and colleagues across the emergency services, fishing fleets and all concerned in trying to bring them home.
‘ Thank you does not seem sufficient to express what your continued support means to us, but thank you’.