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Remarks on the Occasion of the unveiling of a memorial plaque to Leading Seaman Michael Quinn

Drogheda, 27th May 2012

A Dhaoine Uaisle,

Is mór an onóir dom an phlaic chuimhneacháin seo a nochtú don Mhairnéalach Michael Quinn a d'imigh ar shlí na fírinne agus é ag iarraidh beathaí dhaoine eile a shábháil. Bhí áthas an domhain orm cuireadh a fháil don ócáid seo ó chara agus comhghleacaí Mhichael sa tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh, Paul Kellett.

I am honoured to unveil this memorial plaque to Leading Seaman Michael Quinn who selflessly gave his life while trying to save the lives of others. I was delighted to receive the invitation to this event from Michael’s friend and Naval Service colleague, Paul Kellett.

I would like to thank Paul for all the hard work he has done to make this weekend possible. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Michael’s family. This event, while recognising Michael’s gallantry, will inevitably be tinged with sadness at what might have been if he had not been taken from you prematurely, 22 years ago.

As an island nation, Irish people and in particular our coastal communities have always depended to some degree on the bounty that our seas provide. In one of the finest books ever written in the Irish language, ‘An tOileánach,’ or The Islander in English, the writer, Tomás Ó Criomthain, describes the wide variety of seafood caught off the Blasket Islands in County Kerry and how one night, he along with other fishermen caught a ‘huge creature or piast mhór’ in their nets with great difficulty. The creature was likely to have been a whale or a basking shark, but in any event, the oil from its liver fuelled all the lamps on the Blasket Island for five years (30 households). Although it is over 90 years since this account was written, there are fishermen both in Ireland and elsewhere whose livelihoods still depend on the seas around us. For those fishermen, the Irish Coast Guard together with the Naval Service will provide vital assistance should they find themselves in difficulties. Sadly and notwithstanding gallant efforts it is not always possible to bring everyone safely home.

Leading Seaman Michael Quinn, who was from Ship Street here in Drogheda, was a young man of only 27 years of age on that fateful day in 1990. Those who knew him recount of how he was a hardworking, selfless individual; a good solid, mature leader who took time to help and train fellow crew members onboard his Naval Service ship. His knowledge of seamanship was excellent and his small boat handling skills were exceptional. He was one of the most experienced Gemini coxswains onboard L.E. Deirdre. He was popular and very well liked by his colleagues.

At 9pm on that winter night of 30th of January 1990, L.E. Deirdre responded to a ‘mayday’ sent out by the Spanish Fishing Vessel ‘Gardotza’ which had run aground on rocks off Roan Carrigmore light house to the North East of Bere Island in Bantry Bay. The call meant that the crew were in imminent and grave danger and needed help.

The LE Deirdre was at anchor in Lawrence Cove between Bere Island and the mainland when the mayday call was received and made for the last reported location of the Spanish fishing vessel. Just after 10pm the LE Deirdre launched an inflatable dinghy in an attempt to rescue the 16 crew of the Spanish trawler and Leading Seaman Michael Quinn selflessly volunteered to be one of the members of the inflatable dinghy crew along with Able Seaman Paul Kellett. Weather conditions at the time were poor. On assessing the situation when closer to the trawler a decision was taken by Michael that due to the extreme sea conditions a rescue by inflatable dinghy would be impossible (the Spanish crew would be rescued later by an RAF helicopter). Tragically, for both Michael’s family and the Naval Service, in trying to return to the LE Deirdre, the inflatable dinghy with him and Paul aboard was hit by a 40ft wave. The dinghy flipped over and both Michael and Paul were thrown from it. While Paul, thankfully, was washed ashore and survived, sadly Michael did not, his body found washed ashore some miles away the following morning.

Leading Seaman Michael Quinn (posthumously) and Able Seaman Paul Kellett both received Distinguished Service Medals for their efforts that night. Michael’s commendation read:

“For displaying leadership, devotion to duty and courage to the extent of losing his own life, in that he volunteered for and undertook a hazardous mission under adverse conditions to locate and reconnoitre a stricken vessel in order that a rescue could be effected on the crew of the FV Gardotza, grounded on the Roan Carrigmore, Co. Cork on the night of 30 January, 1990.”

The Spanish Authorities also recognised the bravery of the men who took to sea in the inflatable boat that evening through awarding both with a medal known as the ‘Cross of Naval Merit’ in recognition of the valour they displayed in seeking to assist with the rescue of the 16 stricken trawler men.

The name of Leading Seaman Michael Quinn on this plaque we are unveiling today should serve to remind us of the courage shown by members of the Defence Forces as they carry out their duties. Of course this plaque also serves to remind us of the great loss suffered by Michael’s family, comrades and friends, a great many of whom are here with us today. I hope that this occasion in Michael’s honour, this testimony to his courage and determined efforts to help others in distress and danger, the unveiling of this plaque in his honour, and the knowledge that Michael’s sacrifice will not be forgotten, will bring you comfort and peace.

Tá sé oiriúnach go mbeadh an cuimhneachán seo lonnaithe i nDroichead Átha, baile dúchais Mhicheal agus baile ina bhfuil traidisiún breá mairnéalachta. Is féidir le muintir Dhroichead Átha a bheith bródúil as Príomh Mhairnéalach Michael Quinn don duine a bhí ann agus don éacht misniúil a rinne sé.

It is fitting that this memorial should be located in Michael’s home town of Drogheda, a town with a fine seafaring tradition. The people of Drogheda can be proud of Leading Seaman Michael Quinn, for who he was and for his courageous act.

I know there are many retired and serving members of the Naval Service here today. I had the pleasure of reviewing the fleet recently in Cork and the Naval Service today continues to present a wide range of challenging roles to all its personnel, personnel who operate in some of the most hostile seas in the world, personnel who patrol the largest sea-to-land ratio of any EU State in North Western Europe. The continuing success of the Naval Service in fulfilling its role of supporting the Irish Coast Guard in Marine search and rescue and its many other tasks has resulted in a much more widespread public appreciation of the importance of the Naval Service to the whole community.

I recently attended a memorial ceremony for the crew of the trawler Tit Bonhomme who lost their lives in Glandore Bay, West Cork. That terrible tragedy is another reminder to us all as to the dangers that exist in our waters and how important the Naval Service is to the maritime community. I would like to take the opportunity again today to commend the personnel involved, the captains and crews from the L.E. Niamh and the L.E. Orla, which acted as on scene coordinating vessels during the course of the recovery operation, and the Naval Service Dive Teams who dedicated many long hours to the search.

This was such a heartbreaking ordeal for all those connected with the loss of the five fishermen, but just like Michael Quinn’s action in January 1990, the commitment and dedication of both the naval service and the local community in helping the bereaved families shone through. I know it is something their families greatly appreciated and it is a great comfort to all the people of Ireland whose livelihoods depend on the sea to know that brave men and women are ready to come to their assistance when needed.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Naval Association for the work they do on behalf of their members and recognise their many charitable activities. Members of the Naval Association have worked tirelessly to make sure that Leading Seaman Michael Quinn’s selfless act of bravery will always be remembered. Indeed, the Dublin Branch of the Naval Association is named in Michael’s honour.

I would like to thank everyone for attending this ceremony to commemorate the bravery of one of our finest seamen, one of our finest citizens, whose bravery will never be forgotten. It gives me great pleasure to unveil this memorial plaque to Leading Seaman Michael Quinn.