Good Samaritan came to Mayo visitor's rescue

A GOOD Samaritan has been hailed after coming to the rescue of a visitor to Westport who found themselves with a flat tyre - and no spare.

Donegal man Kevin Egan found himself stranded on Bridge Street earlier this summer. With his luck out, it returned again in the form of local man Liam McNally.

Kevin, from Milford, contacted The Connaught Telegraph to share his good news story and to thank Liam.

He told us: 'I am writing to you to tell you about an incident which happened to me in June. I was parked on the main street in Westport, just opposite Matt Molloy's. I was sitting in my car reading while my wife checked out the shops.

'It was the June bank holiday Monday. I was approached by a gentleman who told me I had a flat rear tyre. When I got out of the car to look I saw that I had, indeed, a very flat tyre. This was my second puncture of the day as a few hours earlier I had a puncture just outside Bundoran.

'I was in a desperate situation as I had no spare tyre. I had already used it and all the garages/tyre centres were closed because of the bank holiday. I drive a Skoda and the gentleman who informed me that I had a puncture said that he also had a Skoda car.

'He said: “I have a similar car to you so I will give you my spare tyre.” I said his offer would be fantastic and would allow my wife and I to continue on our journey to Conemara.

'I said to the man that he did not even know me and how could he be sure I would come back. He said: “Sure you'll be back sometime”.'

Continued Kevin: "I thought that this was a very generous, magnanimous act. It was a very Christian act and was a great display of trust.

"At this stage I gave the man my name, address and telephone number and told the man I would drop off his tyre a few days later at a local garage on my return to Donegal. The man at this stage gave his name as Liam McNally from Westport.

"I feel that Liam's generosity should be recognised and applauded. In these current times when we hear so many sad stories it's nice to hear a good story.

"Liam McNally you are a credit to your family, Westport and indeed Ireland but most of all you are a credit to yourself."