Ballyhaunis remembers Vietnam war hero Patrick Gallagher

Peter Gallagher, brother of the late Cpl Patrick Gallagher and family members on route from St Patrick’s Church in Ballyhaunis to the local cemetery for the sequence of events.

Michael Commins

BALLYHAUNIS paid a moving tribute on Thursday to a brave son of the parish who died in an ambush in Vietnam on March 30, 1967. Corporal Patrick ‘Bob’ Gallagher was just 23 when he and ten colleagues lost their lives at DaLoc near Danang.
All of 50 years has flown by since Patrick Gallagher of Derrintogher, Ballyhaunis, died in the uniform of the USA. He was within days of finishing his service and returning to America and a planned hero’s welcome in his native Ballyhaunis.
The quiet spoken and unassuming young man had some weeks earlier being accorded the Navy Cross for bravery, the second highest honour bestowed by the US Military and Navy. The act of bravery that saved the lives of his comrades took place on July 18 (1966) when Patrick displayed incredible heroism.
One of the largest crowds ever to attend a funeral in Ballyhaunis lined the streets of the town back in 1967. The outpouring of grief and sadness touched a generation and is still vividly remembered by many to this day. Oliver Jordan, who sang in the choir at the Requiem Mass in 1967, and who is still a member of the choir, was singled out for special mention last Thursday.
It was an emotional day for Peter Gallagher, a brother of the late Patrick, who lives in the parish with his wife Noreen and family, and his sisters Rosaleen (Ballyhaunis) and Pauline and Teresa (Dublin) and their families as memories came crowding back of that far off day in a strange country from where grief and heartache came knocking on a farm home in Mayo.
It was Fr Rushe and Fr Heraty who had to bring the terribly sad news to the Gallagher home after being contacted by the American Embassy in Dublin. One can only try to comprehend the sword of sorrow that pierced the hearts of the Gallagher family on that fateful day.
Fr Stephen Farragher, PP, was the chief celebrant at the Mass in St Patrick’s Church on Thursday, assisted by Fr Joe Feeney, PP, Ballinlough, and Fr Kieran Waldron, a native of the parish of Ballyhaunis.
Also remembered in the Mass were Christy Nevin from Brize, Claremorris, who died in action in Vietnam in February 1966, Cpl Brain Óg Freyne from Ballaghaderreen who died in Vietnam in early 1967, and Private Billy Keadin from Ballyhaunis who died in The Lebanon during peace-keeping duties with the Irish Army in 1999. Members of all these families attended the memorial service on Thursday.
Fr Farragher extended a warm welcome to members of the US Marines and the Irish Army who were present for the ceremonies as well as Brigadier General Mike Neill of the US Marines Corps and Major General Kieran Brennan of the Irish Defence Forces. He also welcomed the Minister for Defence, Paul Kehoe, along with other public representatives.

Memorabilia
Among the memorabilia on display were Patrick’s Marine cap and photo, a wooden cabinet he made while a pupil at St Patrick’s College in Ballyhaunis, sods of turf recalling days in the bog, and his mother’s bellowed prayer book.
“We can’t deny the generosity of spirit and the courage and bravery of those noble young people. They paid the ultimate price by giving their lives. We often tend to take democracy for granted. Peace is as fragile as ever. International terrorism is an ever present threat in the world today,” reflected Fr Farragher.
Afterwards, members of the American Marine Corps, along with the Irish Defence Forces, and children from Granlahan and Cloonfad National Schools, led a parade from the church grounds to the cemetery. Lone piper, Eugene Henry from the Midfield Pipe Band, played a selection of airs and laments as he walked ahead of the parade.
American, Irish, Mayo and Ballyhaunis flags decorated the route through the town as people came out of the shops and homes to witness this special day in the history of the town and parish.
Military honours were rendered beside Patrick ‘Bob’ Gallagher’s grave in Ballyhaunis cemetery. The bowed heads of the Marines and Defence Forces was a fitting and poignant reminder to a fallen hero of five decades ago. A short time later, the monument in his memory was unveiled in the cemetery.
Afterwards, a reception was held in The Friary, Ballyhaunis. Letters sent from Patrick to his parents were on display as part of the exhibition. It was impossible to read them without tears welling up. A young lad in the strange land of Vietnam enquiring about the family and the neighbours and how the sheep were doing at home and a mention of the fair in Ballyhaunis. Unforgettable … Mayo Boy, Vietnam Hero. Rest in peace, Patrick.