Canadians remembered at Mayo Peace Park ceremony
Only the flapping sound of the National Flag of Canada broke the solemn silence at Castlebar's Mayo Peace Park as a representative gathering stood in silence with two retired Canadian naval officers as they paid their respects to the Mayo men who gave their lives for Canada during both world wars.
Bill Dziadyk, a retired Lieutenant Commander, and David Lépine, a former naval officer, and now Mayor of Ogden, Quebec, came to Castlebar to visit the Mayo Peace Park and lay wreaths at the Canadian War Memorial.
The men are trustees of the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Balla piper Pat Conlon piped the visitors into the Peace Park before the solemn ceremony began.
The Canadian visitors, who were attending the Battle of the Atlantic remembrance ceremonies in Derry, were welcomed by the cathaoirleach of Castlebar, Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, who said Castlebar was honoured that they had taken time out of their busy schedule to visit the Mayo Peace Park.
Founder of the Mayo Peace Park, Michael Feeney, MBE, reminded the gathering of strong family ties between Mayo and Quebec where many of his own relatives had emigrated.
Mr. Feeney also asked those present to remember Achill-man Finbar Cafferkey (44), a military volunteer with the Ukrainian forces, who was killed in combat recently.
Responding, Mayor Lépine spoke about how Irish men and women had contributed to all walks of life n Canada.
They were at the Mayo Peace Park to honour those who gave their lives fighting for the Canadian forces and the current war in Europe reminded us of the purpose of their great sacrifice.
Mr. Dziadyk, who served as a Combat Systems Engineer (CSE) in the Royal Canadian Navy, said 66,755, including Newfoundland service members, were killed during the First World War.
In the Second World War, 44,090 Canadian and Newfoundland service members had died.
Canada was a nation of people from many lands, including Ireland, and the Irish had played a significant role in the history and defence of Canada.
Following the wreath-laying, the Canadian National Anthem was played and the gathering stood in silence as the ceremony concluded with the Last Post.
Among those who attended the ceremony were cathaoirleach Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, leas cathaoirleach Councillor Blackie Gavin, Commander Ron Howko, John Barry Post of the American Legion in Ireland, Jim Casey, former President of the Irish United Nation Veterans' Association, Stephen McLaughlin, treasurer, Mayo Peace Park Committee, Ernie Sweeney, chairman of World War Graves Committee, John Moran and Peter Foran, Mayo Peace Park Committee.
Earlier, Mr Dziadyk, the author of S.S. Nerissa, the Final Crossing: The Amazing True Story of the Loss of a Canadian Troopship in the North Atlantic, and Mayor Lépine, visited a number of cemeteries in Mayo to pay their respects to Canadian and Allied service members who died during the Battle of the Atlantic and whose bodies were washed ashore along the Mayo coast.