US marine is remembered at Whiddy Island

A commemoration in June remembered a young US marine who was killed in a seaplane crash in October 1918 while returning to Whiddy Island on the south coast of Ireland. 

The event began with a wreath laying ceremony at the crash site attended by 25 boats out of Bantry, followed by the unveiling of a memorial on the island by Lt Col Sean Cosden, Defence Attaché to the American Embassy and US Air Corps.

 Also among the gathering were County Mayor Alan Coleman; Col Barry Hanon, Irish Air Corps; Comdt Keohan, Irish Army; representative of the Irish Naval Service; local politicans; members of the American Legion; the Castletownbere Lifeboat and Bantry Inshore Search and Rescue.

Following speeches by Finian O’Sullian on behalf of the Port of Cork, Mayor Alan Coleman and Tim O’Leary of teh Whiddy Island Development Association, Nell Regan, Director of the West Cork Literary Festival read poetry which was followed by an American lament played  by the Doric String Quartet who were participating in the West Cork Chamber Music Festival.

The ceremony concluded with a talk tracing Irish American aviation connections.