Valour awards for service in the Irish merchant fleet in the second World War have been presented to 20 more recipients by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods.
Medals and certificates were awarded to three of the 20 seamen at a ceremony in Dublin Castle on Saturday, while four awards were awarded to the next of kin of seamen who lost their lives in wartime service. A further 13 were presented to next of kin of those who had subsequently passed away.
The Minister emphasised the Government was acknowledging a debt of honour owed to the men of Ireland's wartime merchant fleet, and said the awards were a matter of pride in terms of family heritage for the recipients and their extended families.
Maritime historians estimate some 156 seafarers lost their lives during the war years keeping shipping lines open. Of these, the families of over 40 are probably entitled to posthumous awards which remain unclaimed. The Minister appealed to such claimants to come forward and contact his Department's mercantile marine offices in Dublin and Cork.
The recipients at the weekend, who served on ships including the Irish Pine, Irish Fir, Irish Larch, Irish Spruce, Irish Alder, Irish Elm, Irish Beech, Irish Ash, Irish Cedar, City of Antwerp, Monaleen, Isolda, Cymric, Edenvale and others were:
Mr Thomas Cusack, of Cork, who was lost at sea; Mr Edward Kirby, of Cork, posthumous; Mr John Kent, of Cork, posthumous; Mr William Murphy, of Cork, posthumous; Mr Samuel Williams, of Dublin, present; Mr Thomas Sharkey of Dublin, present; Mr Richard Grimes, of Dublin, lost at sea; Mr William Carr, of Dublin, lost at sea; Mr Anthony Whitty, of Dublin, posthumous; Mr John Kenny, of Dublin, posthumous; Mr Richard Jones, of Dublin, posthumous; Mr William McDermott, of Dublin, posthumous; Mr John Reynolds, of Louth, posthumous; Mr Simon O'Connor, of Wexford, present; Mr Anthony O'Farrell, of Wexford, posthumous; Mr James Brennan, of Wexford, lost at sea; Mr William Kenny, of Wexford, posthumous; Mr Edward Barry, of Wexford, lost at sea; Mr Joseph Hannon, of Wexford, posthumous; and Mr Patrick Higgins, of Waterford, posthumous.
Also, a memorial to 16 men from the Loughshinny area of north Dublin who lost their lives at sea this century has been unveiled by Dr Woods. The Minister also presented a medal for valour to Mr William McGee (82), for his service aboard Irish vessels during the second World War.
