Dramatic Moy rescue is recalled after 61 years at Mayo book launch

by Tom Gillespie

ONE of the events highlighted in the newly launched book, ‘On This Day in Mayo’, came very much alive at the Wild Atlantic Words Festival in Castlebar.

Author Máirtín Ó Maicín told a captive audience at the Dome, Bridge St. that the date, April 4, 1962, has a special significant for the Campbell family in Ardnaree in Ballina.

He elaborated: “That was the date their young daughter, a young girl of six years old, while playing on the banks of the River Moy at the fishery slip on Cathedral Road, tumbled from a wall and fell into the water and was in danger of drowning.

“But a 13-year old teenager going along the road spotted the commotion and without a hesitation in the world jumped into the river and pulled the young girl out and saved her.

“While there was all commotion around the young girl, the young man hopped on his bike and headed off home.”

Máirtín added: "I am sure the Campbell family have their heroes and I have no doubt in my mind that their hero was a young man who saved their daughter and pulled her out of the river that April evening.

“That young man - his name is Arthur Moran - and I am delighted to say he is here with us.”

In the book Máirtín recalled how the young girl was floating downstream when the draper’s son courageously jumped into the river, grabbing the child in distress by her coat and pulling her to safety.