|
OCTOBER 2007
Moville's tribute to the Sullivan Brothers
A letterkenny man last week has expressed thanks to the people
of Moville for their tribute to five American brothers killed during
world war II. George, Francis, Joseph, Madison and Albert Sullivan
all served on the US Navy cruiser Juneau. They were killed when
the vessel was sunk during the battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. Their
death sparked a wave of sympathy and led to the military introducing
regulations prohibiting relations from serving together in future.
Maggie O'Halloran, Albert's mother-in-law, had emigrated from Moville
in the 1920s. Her sister Jane was a well-known resident of Eden
Place in Derry, who related the sad tale to her children and grandchildren
over the years. Jane's grandson Seamus McCann, who now lives in
Letterkenny, represented the family in Moville on Saturday, 29th
September, when Foyle Rowing Club dedicated one of their new punts
to the Sullivan brothers. He said he was touched by their kind gesture.
"It was very nice of them to honour the family in this way.
I'm sure a lot of people never knew anything about their story,
and their connection with Moville, he said, "I would particularly
like to thank John Crumlish for all the work he has done over the
years, researching this sad story and passing all the information
on to me.
Seamus has vivid memories hearing the story in his youth, and of
a framed photo that always had a place of honour in his granny's
sitting room. "In the 1940s, when the boys enlisted, Maggie
sent a picture of all boys in uniform over to my grandmother. She
had it framed and always kept it on the piano, as I recall. After
she died, it was passed on to my sister, who give it to one of her
daughters in turn." A spokesperson for the Foyle Rowing Club
said they were delighted that Seamus, as well as a representative
from the American Embassy, were able to attend the dedication. The
dedication of eight punts on Saturday was the culmination of a two-year
long community project which involved people of all ages working
with Moville Community college and the Greencastle Fisheries School
to pass on tradition skills of boat-building and seacraft.
Senior Master Sergeant James Steelsmith, who represented the American
Embassy at the dedication, was full of praise for the initiative.
"I think it's tremendous that the community is saving their
heritage in this way. They're getting the whole community involved
from the youngest children to the oldest people in the town. There
was a great spirit. I'm going to make a point to come back. It was
wonderful.
Additional information
Sent in by Michael Reynolds Greenock
The Sullivan boys parents led the Rosary on the first nationwide
radio broadcast in the US by Fr. Patrick Peyton (from Attymass,
near Sligo) who went on to become the world famous 'Rosary priest'.
Fr Peyton at that time, spring, 1945, had a 15 minute slot on local
New York radio and wanted to have a longer nationwide slot. The
producers required big-name stars (of whom he new not), but with
the help of friends on earth and above, he managed to get Bing Crosby,
St. Patrick's Choir in New York and the US President at the time
to address the nation. Mr.& Mrs. Sullivan were in exalted company
that day, May 8th 1945 which was VE day in the US.
This was taken from a video bought at the Fr. Peyton centre in
Attymass called ' A Most Unusual Man' which featured a whole host
of stars who appeared with Fr. Peyton on his Family Theatre TV and
radio programmes. His theme was ' The family that prays together
stays together.'
Back
|
