Families and friends come together in Tipperary to mark 50th anniversary of plane crash
Families and friends gathered in the Galtee Mountains this last weekend to remember those who passed away in the crash in 1976
Last Saturday and Sunday, Burncourt Community Council hosted those who had travelled to the Galtee Mountains to commemorate the Anniversary and remember those who lost their lives when their light aircraft crashed on September 20, 1976.
The three friends Tom Gannon, Jimmy Byrne and Dick O’Reilly , all members of the Abbeyshrule Air Club had taken off from Kilbrittin airstrip in Co Cork to return to Co Longford.
Last Saturday, there was a Commemorative Walk to the crash site followed by a Service of Remembrance on Sunday. Both events were well attended with family members of those who died, past members of Abbeyshrule Air Club, members of the local mountain rescue team S.E.M.R.A. and locals who recalled the crash.
Following the events, refreshments were served in Burncourt Community Hall where the tea and the chat flowed. It was a very special get together for all with huge thanks to Jimmy Barry for his organisational work.
Difficult times often lead to new beginnings and this was the case here. There was no mountain rescue in the area in 1976, it was local farmers and hill walkers who helped in the aftermath of the crash.
It was decided then, that a mountain rescue team was needed and in 1977, SEMRA was founded, celebrating its 50th anniversary next year.