Irish Naval and military personnel gathered on the Drogheda quays on Sunday, to honour two of the town’s naval heroes, Leading Seaman Michael Quinn DSM who died on active service in 1990 and the founder of the Ecuadorian Navy, Admiral Thomas Charles Wright.
They were joined at two separate ceremonies, by Captain Marfiu Rodriguez, Lieutenant Luis Bonilla and Ensign Nicole Villacres of the Ecuadorian Navy who had come to the town to honour Admiral Wright.
Admiral Wright is the Drogheda-born founder of the Ecuadorian Navy and Michael Quinn DSM was an Irish Navy sailor from Drogheda who lost his life during a rescue attempt off Bantry in 1990.
Captain Rodriguez is the Ecuadorian Defence Attaché in Ireland and he was accompanied by the Honorary Consul to Ireland.
The events commenced at noon with a commemoration ceremony at South Quay in memory of Leading Seaman Michael Quinn DSM.
On 30th January 1990 Michael, then aged 27, lost his life attempting to rescue sixteen Spanish fishermen aboard the sinking vessel Nuestra Senora de Gardtoza that had gone aground on rocks in Bantry Bay during a severe gale.
At the commemoration of Michael Quinn, the Ecuadorian officers joined the assembled personnel of ONE, the Irish Naval Association, Royal Naval Association, RNLI, the Coast Guard and the Irish Naval Association and other groups. Several Drogheda councillors led by Deputy Mayor Kevin Callan attended both ceremonies.
The National President of ONE, Michael Kinahan said, “I must say I was delighted to see such a tribute to Michael and the admiral, this is a special day.”
After the ceremony on the South Quay those assembled crossed the bridge to take part in the Admiral Thomas Charles Wright commemoration at 1.00 pm joined by the Quinn family who as honoured invitees.
Boyne Fisherman’s Rescue Service had a rib boat on the river to keep vigil and they also had officers ashore. Garda Inspectors Kevin Toner and Declan Monahan attended representing the gardai in Louth.
Noel Bailey and Des Grant of the Old Drogheda Society, who erected the Wright monument in 2018, thanked all those who attended and paid their “deep respect” to the Quinn family for also attending the admiral’s event.
The Royal Navy (Veterans) Association had fourteen members present at both events. The Drogheda Port pilot boat was also in attendance, while Harbourmaster Captain Laurence Kirwan was at the ceremony.
Captain Rodriguez gave an glowing outline of Admiral Wright’s career that saw him become a close aide to Simon Bolivar in the fight for the independence of South America and Ecuador.
MEP Colm Markey who laid a wreath said, “It is a fitting tribute to a son of this town who played such a role in South America, and coupled with the bravery of Michael Quinn, this is a proud day for the town.”
Deputy Mayor Kevin Callan, flanked by councillors Paddy McQuillan, Declan Power and James Byrne said, “We are delighted to participate in the ceremonies today. Thomas Wright had an incredible life journey and ended up a hero for the people of Ecuador.”
He added, “As an aside the two top performing naval cadets in the Ecuadorian Navy win a scholarship to study English in ELI College in Drogheda every year, so his homeland is not forgotten in Ecuador.”
“Today, we firstly remembered Leading Seaman Michael Quinn, who gave his life in the service of the State,” he added. After the ceremony Captain Rodriguez was hosted at a luncheon in Scholars Hotel where he was presented with a James McCabe watch, the Irish watchmaker to George Washington and Admiral Nelson.
The captain thanked the Old Drogheda Society, Drogheda Port, ONE and the Royal Navy Association and the other groups for the warm welcome he received.
The president of the Chamber of Commerce Hubert Murphy said, “It is wonderful to see both men remembered for what they did and that we recognise them in their own, individual way. Drogheda Chamber has been a part of life in Drogheda for more than a century and we were honoured to be part of two inspiring ceremonies.”
The captain also toured the language college on Merchants Quay during his time in the town to familiarise himself with the courses there.
The captain explained they originally planned to hold the ceremony on Saturday, the admiral’s birthday, but on hearing of the planned Michael Quinn ceremony “we decided we wanted to be at both, and this proved to be a very good decision because so many of the Irish groups came with us and that was something noble.”
