Mayor meets the Kerry community in New York

MAYOR of Kerry Cllr John Sheahan has concluded a visit to New York as part of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

On Saturday, he joined Mayor of New York Bill de Blasio for an early morning reception at his official residence.

Later he joined Kerry Patriotic and Benevolent Association President, Frank O’Keefe to lead the 1,500 strong Kerry Association down Fifth Avenue in the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade.

On Friday Mayor Sheahan laid a wreath in remembrance of the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks at the memorial site in New York on behalf of the people of Kerry.

The $3 billion memorial and museum were built at Ground Zero by Navillus, the construction company headed up by Donal O’Sullivan from Ballinskelligs.

The Mayor also met current members of the New York Fire Department who are of Kerry heritage, including Queens Battalion Chief Stephen Sullivan, whose family is from Cromane and Beaufort.

He recalled how a delay in getting to the Fire House on the morning of the 9/11 attacks probably saved his life. All of his colleagues in the Brooklyn Unit perished while trying to evacuate people from the South Tower when it collapsed on them.

During his trip the Mayor also made visits to the Yonkers Fire House and the Kerry Hall, headquarters of the Kerry Association in New York.

(Above) (Below right) Mayor Sheahan with Kerry Association members at the Kerry Hall. (Below left) The Mayor with the O’Sullivan clan from Cromane. The Mayor lays a wreath at Ground Zero.