Members of the FDNY Emeralds Pipes and Drums were joined Thursday by the Irish Navy, Coast Guard, Garda Siochana, the ONE veterans group, and County Cork fire crews in a tribute to the fallen of 9/11.
They all gathered under a blue August sky at the 9/11 Garden of Remembrance in Ringfinnan, Kinsale, County Cork.
The ceremony was the the most formal and solemn part of a visit by the Emeralds that is made up of series of events in Cork and Dublin.
The Kinsale ceremony honored the memory of the 343 Firefighters who lost their lives in New York City on 9/11. The ceremony also honored fallen FDNY chaplain Fr. Mychal Judge and Durrell “Bronco” Pearsall.
Said a release: "The Emerald Society Pipes and Drums FDNY wish to highlight and bring attention to the Remembrance Garden, highlighting its significance and its maintenance as a 'living' memorial.
"They are traveling with both active and retired FDNY firefighters and their relations, some of whom responded on that dreadful day. It will be an emotional part of their trip to Ireland. Each individual tree has a name plate in honor of each of the fallen firefighters. This is their 61st anniversary of their formation."
About seventy members of the FDNY and partners made the journey across the Atlantic.
The Kinsale ceremony included the attendance of members of Cork County Council. There was an address by Captain Tom Cunneen of the FDNY, other speeches, music, and a wreath laying ceremony.
At The White House in Kinsale there was a presentation by Ron Howko on the Irish Medal of Honor recipients, including Michael Gibbons. His Medal of Honor was earned in 1898 during the Spanish American War. The medal was on display.
Ron Howko is a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant who has been living in Ireland for 27 years and is currently the Commander of the American Legion Post No. 03 West of Ireland.
Howko and Declan Hughes (Irish Veterans) were to present the Emeralds with a plaque specially commissioned from the Wild Goose Studio, Kinsale.
After Kinsale, the Emeralds are to give a recital at a banquet in Dublin Castle Thursday evening. On Friday they will play at the FDNY V Garda Siochana boxing tournament at the National Stadium.
The following day, Saturday, they will be at the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, Notre Dame V Navy. On Sunday the 27th the Emeralds will team up with their friends and colleagues from the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipes & Drums.
