Mayo D-Day heroine Maureen Sweeney awarded special US distinction

Ninety-eight-year-old Maureen Sweeney has received a medal from the US House of Representatives at an event in Sonas nursing home in Belmullet over the weekend.

John J. Kelly, an Irish American who led the design and production of the modern landing craft, paid tribute to Maureen and the Sweeney family at the event on behalf of the USA.

John read several letters of thanks to Maureen and her family from the US, the Higgins, Walk and Flavin families.

Frank Walk survived D-Day in Normandy mainly due to the storm warning by Maureen on June 3, 1944.

John also presented a letter and certificate to Maureen from the president of the World War Two Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.

John read a signed personal note from the highest ranking military officer to ever take a seat in the US Congress.

Retired Three Star Marine Corps General now Congressman Jack Bergman (Michigan First District) sent his best wishes to Maureen and thanked her for her work in 1944.

Congressman Bergman also sent a framed parchment from the US Congress which places her name in the US Congressional Record for perpetuity.

This recognises Maureen’s weather report that saved lives because of the postponement of Operation Overlord and then the met. report that led to the go-ahead for D-Day in Normandy, France in 1944.

John J. Kelly presented the House of Representatives Medal to Maureen Sweeney on behalf of the House of Representatives.

This medal was specially produced and only given to those that have performed “Laudable Deeds” for the USA.

Patricia Kelly, John’s wife, presented a bouquet of Summer flowers to Maureen with the thanks of the people of the USA and of Ireland.

The tribute event’s Master of Ceremonies was Eoin O’Hagan of Cealtra Communications Ltd.

There was several speakers and performers at the event which was live streamed on the internet utilising three cameras by Matt Purcell of Purcell AV.

Ruth O’Hagan of Scariff, Co. Clare, recited a poem “The Girl Who Changed The World” which she penned for Maureen.

The beautiful poem is about an ordinary girl doing ordinary things on an ordinary night not knowing the extraordinary affect she had on World history.

Father Kevin Hegarty, PP, Kilmore and Erris parish, offered a blessing to Maureen, her family, her fellow residents and staff of the Sonas Nursing Home.

He also remembered the crew of Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 116 who were lost in Blacksod Bay four years ago.

Vincent Sweeney, Maureen’s son and Lighthouse keeper in Blacksod, thanked John J. Kelly and all involved in the tribute on behalf of his mother and her family.

Ruth O’Hagan brought proceedings to an end with an emotional rendition of our National Anthem Amhrán na bhFiann (in the Irish language) also know as The Soldier’s Song.