Ceremony to remember drowning disaster in Lacken

Ciara Galvin

TEN men who lost their lives at sea will be remembered this Saturday in Lacken. Nine boatmen who lost their lives off Lacken Pier 90 years ago will be remembered, along with volunteer diver Michael Heffernan who lost his life 20 years ago during a rescue mission at Belderrig.
Michael was a diver with the local Grainne Uaile Diving Club and regularly set out to sea from Lacken Pier. Since his death on October 25, 1997, Mr Heffernan’s action has been recognised by the award of the Carnegie Hero Trust Medallion, by a bravery award from the RNLI and by the Dr John Igoe Community Award.
On October 28, 1927, nine boats set out from Lacken Pier in north Mayo to fish for herring
The boats were within 1,000 yards of the shore when a sudden storm blew up from the south west.
Two boats made it safely to Lacken Pier and five boats were washed over onto the strand and all their crew made it safely ashore. The remaining two boats were blown towards the cliffs on the Kilcummin side of the bay.  Seven crew members of one boat managed to scramble ashore, but the eighth crewman, Anthony Kearney (30) drowned, his body was later recovered.  The remaining boat called ‘Rose of Rathlacken’ was smashed against the rocks and all eight crew members were lost.
The bodies of Thomas Lynott (50) father of two, Thomas Goldrick (40), brothers Michael Goldrick (22) and Pat Goldrick (19), Anthony Goldrick (20); brothers Pat Kearney (45) and Martin Kearney (35) and Anthony Coolican (23) were never recovered.
Nine fishermen were also lost off Inishbofin, 16 off Rossadilisk (Cleggan), ten off Inniskea and nine in Lacken.

Ceremony
Family members, the local community and a number of guests will gather in Lacken to remember the lost. Bishop John Fleming, along with a number of priests from the diocese, will concelebrate Mass at noon in St Patrick and St Cuimin Church Lacken. After Mass shuttle buses will take people to/from Lacken Pier for a commemoration ceremony at the Lacken Drowning Monument. The Garda SíochΡna, The Coastguard and the RNLI will be in attendance.
Following the ceremony there will be refreshments in the Creevagh NS beside the church.
A booklet on The Lacken Drowning Disaster will be available to purchase for €7 at the event. There has been substantial construction work underway at Lacken Pier over the past few months which was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and The Marine 2017 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Thanks to the generosity of local businesses and private individuals, The Lacken Pier Disaster Committee have been able to erect seating at the pier in memory of the drowned.
All are welcome to attend the 90th commemoration on Saturday, October 28 commencing in Lacken Church at noon.

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lackenpiermayo@gmail.com or call 087 2523434.