Priest's poetic tribute to crew of Rescue 116

A PARISH priest who heard Rescue 116 thundering overhead on its final, ill-fated mission to an emergency off the Mayo coast on the night of March 13/14 has penned a poignant poem about the tragedy.

On his popular website, www.sherlockshome.ie, Fr. Vincent Sherlock, parish priest of Kilmovee, explains that he was in his home around midnight when the rescue helicopter passed overhead.

He adds: “I'd called a priest friend just before midnight and we ended up having a lengthy enough conversation.

“During that call I heard the sound of a helicopter passing overhead and it seemed to be very low and its sound suggested it was close enough.

“At that time of night, I felt certain it was responding to an emergency somewhere. I like helicopters and, had I not been on the phone, I know I’d have walked outside.

“I’d have followed the lights and prayed for those on board. As it was, I know I said a quick prayer.

“I had no idea where the helicopter had come from nor, did I know, its destination. Sadly the next day, with all of Ireland and much of the world, I came to know its story.”

Here's the poem in full.

 

 

IN MEMORY OF RESCUE 116

 

On Monday last I heard your sound

you in sky and me on ground,

on the phone, chatting with a friend

wondered where your journey's end?

 

Someone somewhere was in need

prayed you'd reach them with due speed

and from the sky you'd hover low

to help the stricken ones below

 

The sound was loud as you crossed Mayo

I prayed God's blessing as you'd go

a fleeting wish that you'd be blest

and to ones troubled you'd bring rest

 

An hour later I went to bed

your journey then had left my head

a few hours later the story broke

as to a new day I awoke

 

Helicopter missing near Blacksod;

Could it be them? I asked my God

is that the one that passed last night

to ease another's troubled plight?

 

And yes it was or so it seems

in a world shattered by broken dreams

In lives laid down, you gave your all

in answer to another's call

 

Your photos now before our gaze

friends and family offer tear-filled praise

and the loss they feel is ours too

for as a nation we mourn you

 

How could you as crew have known

the destiny to which you'd flown

but know this now and for evermore

your memories in our hearts we store

 

To Dara, Paul, Ciarán and Mark

who flew that night into the dark

know this day, you gave your best

in God's hands we leave the rest.