Munster Express Online

LAST founder Noel McDonagh looks on as Mayor John Hearne makes his speech

RTÉ South East Correspondent Damien Tiernan, Mayor of the Waterford Metropolitan District Cllr. John Hearne, Photographer Stephanie Salmon and LAST founder Noel McDonagh

Mayor of the Waterford Metropolitan District, Cllr. John Hearne was in the Haven Hotel on Saturday 26th November to launch “Life on the Irish Coast” a book featuring a collection of photographs by Stephanie Salmon. The book features photos taken in Dunmore East, Helvick, Castletownbere, Ballycotton, Baltimore, Fenit, Dingle, Clifden and Killybegs. It is dedicated “to all the people who work or have worked in the fishing industry and their families and to my children Grace and Peter for simply being beautiful, wonderful children that they are”.

MC for the evening was Passage East native and RTÉ South East Correspondent Damien Tiernan. Back in 2009 this newspaper reported the death of Damien’s father-in-law, the well known and respected Passage East fisherman Paddy Mason who lost his life in September of that year, while fishing for crabs and lobsters near Hook Head.

In a highly entertaining speech which began with a reference to “the Hearne and the Salmon”, Mayor Hearne recalled experiences of Whale watching in the Azores, seeing “hundreds of thousands of Dolphins” off the coast of Australia and of course the humanitarian “Gaza Freedom Flotilla” in 2011. When questioned by Mossad, all his shipmate Billy Smith would say was “I was told I was going fishing for a few days with John Hearne”. Hearne also paid tribute to Damien Tiernan for his sensitive reporting on the various “trawler tragedies” and particularly the journalist’s book “Souls of the Sea”.

Sean Corcoran, Paddy Barron and Shane Sutton pursuing the book.

In reply Damien quipped that he looked forward to launching the Sinn Féin politician’s fictional upcoming book “Life on the Seas – a Comic Tragedy”. This reported would very much like to read it!

LAST (Lost at Sea Tragedies) founder Noel McDonagh made a brief speech beginning with a line provided by Noreen Bambury. “As Henry VIII said to his wives – this won’t take long”. He thanked the invited guests and spoke of his organisation’s work providing immediate financial assistance to the families of commercial fishermen affected by loss of life at sea.

The book is priced at €20 and is available to purchase at LifeOnTheIrishCoast.com with the proceeds going to LAST (Lost at Sea Tragedies), an organisation set up by Dunmore East native Noel McDonagh.