A MOVING ceremony on the banks of the River Slaney in Enniscorthy at the weekend offered a heartfelt salute to those who tragically lost their lives in the same waters over the years.
In what was an inaugural event organised by Slaney Search and Rescue (SSR), the voluntary-run locally-based organisation, the stated objective of the day in general was to honour the memory of all who died in Irish waterways.
But for many of those present at last Saturday’s ceremony, which was extremely well-attended, the occasion brought poignant moments of many personal memories of a very personal loss felt by each bereaved family affected.
And while those precious memories will never fade, this first of an annual ceremony now represents a welcome focal point in which families, and the community at large, can unite in paying tribute to their departed loved ones.
The ecumenical Service on the riverbank near the SSR headquarters was conducted by Fr. Rd. Lawless Adm., St. Aidan’s parish, Fr. John Byrne Adm., St. Senan’s parish, and Archdeacon Chris Long of the Enniscorthy-Monart Union of parishes.
Two beautiful wreaths were symbolically brought into the centre of the River Slaney and laid on the water by SSR divers. The wreaths were carried by SSR committee members Margaret Kavanagh-Casey and Bridie O’Connor, while lone piper Liam Doyle played ‘Amazing Grace.’
The large turn-out was made up of members of the public, local families who lost loved ones on Irish waters, local authority members and others. Special guests included members of the Irish Underwater Search and Recovery, Dublin (represented by Eugene Kierns, Reg Fester and Garry Byrne), and members of the New Ross River Search and Rescue.
[For full story, see this week’s Echo]