Community rewarded for response to sea tragedy

A NORTH county
Dublin community has received a prestigious award for its powerful show of
unity when two local fishermen tragically drowned while out at sea.

Skerries was
named Community of the Year at the 2011 People of the Year Awards last Saturday
week (September 10).

The community
rallied together in an extraordinary show of empathy and solidarity when Ronan
Browne (26), from Skerries, and David Gilsenan (41), from Rush, went missing
while out fishing on April 1.

When hope was
fading and it seemed as if the bodies of the two men would never be recovered,
the close-knit community of Skerries had no intention of giving up and did not
let the families down.

The whole town
got behind the search, helping to raise $80,000 to fuel lifeboats, searching
along the headland on foot and, in a special show of support for the families,
undertaking a walk of solidarity, which 10,000 people participated in.

This was
extraordinary for a town with a population of approximately 11,000.

The local RNLI
stations became the centre of operations and, together with the Skerries
Inshore Lifeboat, fishing and pleasure craft were pressed into action, with
volunteers putting in long days, and local shops and individuals providing food
to support the effort.

The bodies of
the two men were finally recovered off the County Louth coast on April 9 and
brought home.

Dublin North TD
Brendan Ryan (Lab) congratulated Skerries on winning the award.

“For one week at
the beginning of April this year, the Skerries community pulled together in a
show of support and unity for the families of Ronan Browne and David Gilsenan,

?
said Deputy Ryan.

“As the search
for Ronan and David took place throughout that week, the people of Skerries
took part in a moving Walk of Solidarity to raise funds for the ongoing search
efforts.

“It was an event
which I am sure will live in the memories of all those who took part for a very
long time.

“As a Skerries
resident, I for one will never forget the outpouring of support for the
families of Ronan and David that took place during that week in April.

?

The Community of
the Year Award was presented by RTE broadcaster Joe Duffy and accepted on
behalf of the community by Martin Scully and Ollie Grimes, President and
secretary respectively of Skerries Chamber of Commerce.

Meanwhile, the
Irish cricket team, which included a number of Northside players, were also
amongst the award winners for their exploits in the Cricket World Cup earlier
this year.

John Mooney,
from Rush, became a sporting hero overnight when he scored the winning runs in
Ireland’s historic victory over England. John plays for North County Cricket
Club, based in Balrothery.

The awards,
organised by Rehab and sponsored by QUINN-healthcare, are now in their 37th
year. They provide an opportunity for the public to honour outstanding
achievements and contributions made by individuals and organisations to life in
Ireland today.

Angela Kerins,
chief executive of Rehab and chairperson of the adjudication committee,
congratulated the winners.

“Recognising
heroes and acknowledging determination is part of our daily work as every day
we support people with disabilities and others who are marginalised to take
enormous strides in their lives,

? said Ms Kerins.

“This annual
event reminds us of the great spirit that is alive in this country today and
how we have so much to be proud of.

?