‘Maritime links are part of our history’
ON Friday November 4, a special service took place at Holyhead’s St. Mary’s Catholic Church to remember and commemorate those who lost their lives 100 years earlier in a tragic Irish Sea accident between the SS Connemara and the SS Retriever.
As the MP, a local resident and as an ex-seafarer, Albert Owen was proud to participate in this special service and paid tribute to all the organisers, performers and all who attended.
“Maritime links are part of Anglesey’s rich history, heritage, and culture and the links with our Irish friends goes back centuries,” he said.
“The Irish Sea both divides and unites us. It unites local communities, maritime communities and Celtic nations. It is appropriate we come together to commemorate a shared loss.
“We also look forward to the opportunities for the future. Our young people are symbolic in this and their presence in the service was so important. With our Celtic friends today we celebrate our shared values and established relationship, our shared culture and trade.
“Our friendship will last well into the next 100 years as we work together to reach our potential.
“We do so with pride, with mutual respect and with dignity to those who perished 100 years ago today. That is why we are here today, to remember yesterday and to look forward in hope for the future.”
With co-sponsors and MPs from Wales, Northern Ireland and across the U.K, Mr Owen has also tabled an Early Day Motion so that Parliament could commemorate the disaster.
Co-sponsor, SDLP MP for South Down, Margaret Richie, apologised for not being able to attend but said: “It is incumbent on us all on both sides of the Irish Sea never to forget such shared losses and I pay tribute to all the organisers who have come together to commemorate the centenary.
“I look forward to working together with my colleagues and our respective communities in the future and extend my best wishes.”