Cloghoge Valley walk

Waterfall on Cloghoge Brook

Having completed 6 days walking on 2 sections of the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain last September, 2 of our group decided to try another section in May this year with another new pair. Our plan is to walk from the French border at Irun through the Basque country to Bilbao over a week or so. To get in shape for the tough Basque hill country, I have been doing walks around Wicklow, including the Cloghoge Valley between Loughs Dan and Tay.

David Hermans map of Cloghoge Valley

Using David Herman’s “Walker’s Companion – Ireland” as my guide, I set off on a beautiful early April afternoon from the car park overlooking Luggala, residence of Garech de Brun.

With my dog Toesun on his lead, we descended the steep hiilside to the valley floor alongside the Cloghoge river. All around us were deer grazing, numbering in their hundreds.

With Toesun sniffing the deer, I had my hands full trying to keep him in check as we wandered along above the river bank, enjoying the rustic pleasures that abounded around us. Following a rough roadway, we eventually made it to Lough Dan, where a beautiful spectacle awaited us.

With the afternoon sun shining through it, an oak tree welcomed us to the northern shore of the lough. Away from the deer now, Toesun was at last able to wander around sniffing the hedges and paddling in the stream. From here, I followed the directions along the shore to the beach at the northwest corner of the lough and looked up at the very steep climb that was to take me to the peak of Knocnacloghoge, towering above us.

Girding my loins, I started up the sheer side of the hill, resting every 30 steps or so. With Toesun taking some of the workload, I allowed him lead the way, holding firmly to his lead as he worked his way up, rock by rock. The stops allowed me to enjoy the fantastic scenery that was unfolding below us, the Wicklow Mountains were in view over the vista of Lough Dan.

Beauty abounds in the Wicklow Hills

Near the top, we stopped for another rest break and snacks. Around us were small remnants of the snow that had fallen on the mountains earlier in the week – very cooling on my sweaty brow.

After taking nearly an hour to climb up the 150m or so, I was glad to be able to move freely again once we crested the top. Our taget now was the peak of Knocknacloghoge Mountain across heather on mixed peaty and rocky ground. With the sun now on it’s evening retreat, it was important for us to keep moving and we eventually made it to our goal.

My shadow made it to the top!

Looking down the northern slope to Cloghoge Brook, I could see it was a lot kinder looking than the formidable southern slope we had just ascended. Setting off down the boggy slope, we made it to the right bank of the brook, but try as we may, there was no handy crossing point to get onto the recommended left bank. So with the sun dropping in the sky, I decided to keep following the bank down towards the valley floor. It was tricky at times but we made it in about 30 minutes.

The final leg was to work our way back up the roadway from the de Brun homestead, climbing to the car. In all we covered about 10kms (6 miles) in 4 hours. However, the climb from the shore of Lough Dan to the top of the mountain, a distance of c. 350m, took one and a half hours of that time. My dodgy knees survived, my muscles ached but it was a fabulous experience and a good tester for my upcoming Camino walk.

Round Ireland SailFest Fun Run

Get in on the action with Bart, Homer and friends.

This coming weekend on Sunday April 29th, the Round Ireland SailFest is organising a Fun Run/Walk over 5 miles around the town of Wicklow. This an ideal opportunity to put on your runners to boost your own fitness and help with our fundraising efforts for our Festival in June. All the family can take part and enjoy a few hours of fun. Entry is €20 for runners and €10 for walkers.

Come on down and run for fun this Sunday

You can win prizes, you are entitled to take part in another run on Saturday 23rd June for free and there will be spot prizes on the day. REGISTER online www.runireland.com/events/wicklow-sailfest-5-mile-run-walk  or if preferred, in person (Grand Hotel) from 9am until 9pm on Saturday, April 28th.

Be on the start next Sunday - run or walk, it's in a good cause.

 

Enniscorthy RFC do it again

Receiving the Leinster Junior Challenge Cup

My home town team, Enniscorthy Rugby Football Club, where I started playing the game as a kid and later as an adult for 5 or 6 years, won it’s 7th Provincial Towns 1sts Cup in its centenary year by defeating Tullow RFC at Portarlington yesterday, 15th April. With 4 successes way back in the 1920′s, another in 1963 and most recently before yesterday in 1989, they have proved to be remarkably consistant with wins roughly in each generation of it’s 100 year existence.

LBRFU President Stuart Bailey hands over PTC pennant to ERFC President Charlie Kavanagh

My first cousin, another Charlie Kavanagh, had the honour of being club president for this landmark year and relished accepting the accolades on behalf of the players and club. Another cousin Charlie, in company with his brothers and my nephew Terry, were kept up to date with events in the early hours of Monday morning down in Perth, Australia. This win literally reverbated around the world!

ERFC and TRFC line up for the National Anthem

Fans give vocal support

Both Tullow and Enniscorthy come with the reputation of being two of the best supported Junior clubs in Leinster and the huge crowd at Portarlington was testament to that. Supporters were 3 or 4 deep all around the ground, with opposing fans intermingling in good humour in the fine weather. Once the National Anthem was out of the way, the noise levels lifted and the game commenced.

Enniscorthy applying pressure

With the wind at their backs, ‘Scorthy were quickly out of the blocks and played most of the early 20 minutes well into the Tullow half.

Ross Barbour races in for 1st try

Good Tullow defense and an off day for kicking by the Enniscorthy fly half Ivan Poole kept them scoreless but eventually the pressure told and captain Ross Barbour crashed over for a well taken try, converted by Poole.

Ivan Poole about to kick for goal

Soon afterwards, Poole finally found his range with a penalty to leave the score 10 – 0.

Hughie O Neill dives in for try no. 2

With a few minutes to go to half time, ‘Scorthy winger Hughie O Neill weaved his way through several poor tackle attempts to score on the opposite wing, diving bravely under Tullow men to get his touch down to give his team a 15 point lead. Tullow were now in danger of being annihilated and responded with gusto. They totally dominated the last 5 minutes of the first half and were rewarded with 2 penalties to leave the half time score 15 – 6 in favour of the Wexford men.

Alan Jacob puts into a scrum for Enniscorthy

Having bossed the game in all areas of the pitch in the first half, it was up to Enniscorthy to hold their nerve and cool to contain a determined Tullow side in the second half. Scrums, lineouts and back play were all dominated by the Wexford men, with only their goal kicking letting them down. Now playing against the wind, indiscipline started to creep into the game and the ‘Scorthy open side flanker was lucky not to see yellow for throwing punches in front of the referee. Willie Canavan kicked a long range penalty to close the gap to 6 points. Not long afterwards, veteran forward and former Leinster hero, Deccie O Brien did however find himself cooling off in the sin bin for an offense. Tullow missed this kick and a few minutes later, Enniscorthy had another try from a determined forward drive that released the backline and Fiachra Ryan ran in for a 5 pointer in the corner. A few minutes later, Poole made it 23 – 12 and the game looked over.

Enniscorthy were playing well but Tullow just would not go away. With time running out, they applied a serious amount of pressure to the Enniscorthy try line, eventually forcing their way over for a try in the dying minutes. With the score at 23-17, they needed another try but the clock was against them and Enniscothy deservedly took their 7th PTC trophy win in their centenary year.

Championes, championes ole, ole ole.

Alan Jacob accepts his medal

Supporters mob the players

The Holy Grail

President Charlie Kavanagh celebrates

Charlie Kavanagh, my namesake, made a speech on behalf of the victorious club, commiserating with Tullow and congratulating Portarlington on a well run event. He pointed out that scrumhalf Alan Jacob was the brother of Darren Jacob, the jockey who rode Neptune Collonges to Grand National glory the previous day, a very proud weekend for their parents and family. It was a fitting way to celebrate 100 years of rugby in Enniscorthy and all players and teams can take credit for the Clubs endurance and performance over that century. He made the point that he had to be home before Tuesday evening, as his wife was due back on Wednesday – a veiled reference to the last extended celebrations in 1989, when they beat Mullingar to lift the PTC.

It was great to be there to witness the success of my old club for which I still have great affection and strong family ties to. Rugby is alive and well in provincial Ireland and with Tullow producing current Ireland star, Sean O Brien, let’s hope these strong nurseries will prosper for several more years to come. Well done Enniscorthy Rugby Club – we’re proud of you all.

SailFest commemorates Titanic tragic centenary

On the night of 14/15 April 1912 Titanic meets her mortal enemy – an iceberg.

Next Saturday night, April 14th, the Leitrim Lounge and Bar is holding a night to pay tribute tio the hundreds of passengers and crew who perished on that same fateful night 100 years ago. Music will be provided by local group, the Bandits and the committee of the 2012 Round Ireland SailFest will be present to accept donations towards our upcoming Festival in June.

Local Wicklow band playing a wide range from Beatles to Lady Gaga.

The Bandits have a loyal following in the area and are popular in the pubs and at weddings etc. Check out their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bandits/184916328216540 to hear some of their music. Come on down to hear them playin’ great music and havin’ great craic from 10.00pm, no cover charge on the door.

Let Wicklow Rock in JUNE!

The 2012 Round Ireland SailFest is building up momentum now towards the event which takes place from the 22nd to 24th June 2012. Running in conjunction with the Round Ireland Yacht Race, it is aiming to put Wicklow well and truly on the tourism map by providing a wide variety of free entertainment for all age groups. Building on the phenomenal success of the 2010 event, the committee are fundraising to make this years event bigger and better. Any help you can give, will be welcome. Our Car Draw tickets are available through several outlets around Wicklow at €10 each.

A visit to Dublin Zoo

A few weeks ago, I was in Dublin on business and with time on hand, I took a trip across to the Phoenix Park to visit Dublin Zoological Gardens. Being a beautiful day, it gave me a good opportunity to see most of the animals out in their open spaces. Having not been there since 1973, it was great to see the progress that had been made in the interim and I was very impressed. It is a pity that wild animals are taken from their natural habitats, but in some cases, it has become a necessity, thanks to ever present threats of poaching and habitat devastation.

The foresight of Dr Crampton and others to make this facility available at a time when only the very few were privileged enough to travel to exotic places has to be lauded. Certainly, early zoo practices would make most animal lovers today cringe but the zoo of 2012 is a worthy descendant of the 1831 version and run in a professional and caring fashion.

Red Pandas on their outdoor perch

Having fun teasing the visitors

One of the main attractions are the Red Pandas, who have been bred successfully at the Zoo. The main diet of these Chinese natives is bamboo leaf. They are under threat of extinction due to human activity clearing their forests. The parents in Dublin are Beijing and Bamboo.

Silverback out for a stroll

Silverback turns his back on his fellow primates

The Western Lowland Gorilla is another species under threat. These highly social animals operate in small family groups under the protection of the Silverback alpha male. A  party was held for baby Kituba’s 1st birthday over last weekend, a major success in the Zoo’s breeding programme. Unfortunately, the birthday boy wasn’t around on my visit.

Is this really Dublin Zoo?

Southern White Rhinoceros chilling out

Pair of Ostriches grazing

Cute young Giraffe checks out the visitors

Scimitar-horned Oryx

The African Plains area was a wonderful open display of African animals such as the Giraffe, Ostrich, Oryx and Rhinoceros. One of these, the Southern White Rhinoceros is in serious danger of extinction, with poachers able to fetch obscene amounts of money for their horns. It is so lucrative that even trophy heads taken by hunters over a century ago and housed in museums are being targeted. The Oryx was virtually extinct in its Sahara habitat and is now recovering through mnagaed programmes. Watching the graceful gait of the Giraffes as they wandered around their “range” and came up to eyeball their human visitors, I felt that I was almost in Africa. The other animals in this area pretty much ignored us.

Waldrapp Ibis from Turkey - under threat

Red-ruffed Lemur from NE Madagascar

Bornean Orang Utan - tree people of the rain forest (what's left of it)

Snow Leopard in shade from the hot March sun.

Endangered Sumatran Tiger keeps to himself

Amur Tiger - from Russia and under threat also

Away from the African Plains, many other species are threatened by man’s greed or need to expand habitation and none more so than the Tiger, prized for his pelt and body parts. With examples of the largest (Amur) and smallest (Sumatran) tigers, both of whose numbers might not be much more than c.200 in the wild, Dublin Zoo is providing an opportunity for its visitors to see an animal they will have little or no chance of seeing in their natural environment. Lemurs and Orang Utans are in danger of extinction due to forest clearing on a massive scale. In Turkey, the Waldrapp Ibis is being managed in a semi-wild programme with small wild colonies in Morocco and Syria, having once been widespread around Southern Europe and the Middle East. It is reckoned there are no more than 500 pairs in the wild.

Eastern Bongos lock horns

Lion at rest

The Lion is still king of the jungle and mainly survives nowadays thanks to various managed National Parks, having disappeared from many of its traditional ranges. The Eastern Bongo, an antelope with attractive horns and stripes is found only in a remote area of Kenya with demand for their horns and meat, as well as forest clearance the main threats to their continued existence.

Chimp or Chump?

Man’s closest relative (genetically speaking 98% similar) is the Chimpanzee and to prove the point, I placed my hand on the print of a Chimp – it was almost a perfect fit. Us human apes have just developed a bit faster than our hairy cousins, but if we are wiped out and enough of them survive, maybe they’ll step into our shoes in a future eon.

My visit to the Zoo was an enjoyable experience and I was surprised by the large number of foreign visitors wandering around the various areas. Certainly, despite the validity of the contra argument of keeping wild animals in captivity, I found the animals in Dublin Zoo to be in a healthy state and it was a joy to see them live instead of on the  many TV documentaries that bring them into our living rooms. Well managed Zoos offer a valuable service for urban populations by creating awareness of man’s threatening behaviour to our animal co-existants on this planet and provide a chance of saving some almost extinct species, albeit away from their natural habitat. Go along and make your own mind up.

Start of 2010 Round Ireland

The Conway Media Round Ireland Yacht Race and SailFest were huge successes due in no small part to the weather. Watch this video clip to get an idea of the great occasion.

The 2012 Round Ireland is starting to click into gear with 4 entries already confirmed and a healthy number of advance enquiries in the pipeline.

The SailFest committee are pulling out all the stops to make this years Festival bigger and better than 2010 – a tall order. All support will be welcome.

Round Ireland SailFest 2012

A couple of girls out for a stroll on Wicklow's East Pier

The people of Wicklow and our visitors were pleasantly surprised at the fantastic show that the 2010 Round Ireland SailFest committee delivered over the weekend co-inciding with the start of Wicklow Sailing Club’s Conway Media Round Ireland Yacht Race. While the fine weather was a huge factor, the wideranging and full programme of events added a new dimension to Festivals in Wicklow. The aim was to put Wicklow in the National and International shop window and that was certainly achieved. The 2012 committee are working hard to improve on the huge success of the 2010 event and give Wicklow a further boost in projecting itself outside its own hinterland.

Below are several images from the 2010 Conway Media Round Ireland SailFest, giving an idea of the different events we provided. As with any community event, its success depends on the input and energy of the volunteers and event supporters. The 2012 SailFest will be bigger and better, so if you feel you can contribute, let us know, please.

Some of the 2010 SailFest Committee

On  Friday 18th June, we provided the Garda Band outside Wicklow Sailing Club, free music on Main Street and in the Abbey St car park, music in the pubs, funfair and a spectacular fireworks from the Black Castle. Mayor Irene Winters opened the Festival.

Garda Band at Wicklow Sailing Club

Mayor Irene Winters

Round Ireland entrants

Fireworks at Black Castle

On Saturday 19th June, a full day of activity for all ages was provided. The kids had tepees, storytellers, circus performers, BMX bike trials etc. The sailing club arranged dinghy, jet-ski and Zap Cat displays in association with the Irish Sailing Association. With street theatre, artists displays, music on the streets, an antique fire brigade and classic cars, the town was buzzing. That evening, the main event took place at the Abbey Street car park where the American Drifters played to a full house. A  gala midsummer ball took place in Wicklow Gaol. Wicklow had never seen so much activity compressed into one day and compliments on the event still come to members of our committee, 2 years later.

Crowds at kids day on Black Castle field

Classic cars at Black Castle

WSC dinghies get ready

BMX display at Black castle

Fire eater entertains the kids

Snakes alive

Whats the weather like up there?

Zap Cat display

Street theatre - thieves watch out!

Mahatma Geansai perform on the street

American Drifters on stage

Massive audience enjoying free American Drifters concert

With two days of beautiful weather and bumper crowds at our events, the stage was set for a fabulous Race start and more festivities. The committee did a fabulous job organising and managing all of the outdoor entertainment, with a troop of stewards helping out at all the various gigs.

Sunday 20th followed suit with another sunny day and the Race with c.40 entrants set off at 1200 as scheduled. An aerobatic flying display greeted the racers and spectators just after the start, doing smokey loops and  fly pasts, before the Wicklow Pipe Band led the way to Wicklow Gaol. A fashion show and craft display led up up to the festival finale featuring local artiste, Luan Parle. A job well done and the people of Wicklow are still talking about it.

Entertaining the spectators at WSC

Ready for the off from Wicklow Harbour

And they're off. Conway Media Round Ireland is underway.

Fly past fleet

Fly past Black Castle

Harbour fly past

Luan Parle closed the festival with a concert

Every community relishes having Festivals to allow kids and adults the opportunity to enjoy a change from the routine. Wicklow through its SailFest committee, Town Council, Chamber of Commerce, Town Forum, County Council, Wicklow Rural Partnersip, Wicklow Enterprise Board, local clubs including Wicklow Sailing Club and others created a wonderful event in 2010 and the onus now rests on those entities to keep the momentum going to make this a biannual event not to be missed. Wicklow will be the winner and the townspeople can reflect in the positive vibes generated by the Round Ireland SailFest, built on the long established Round Ireland Yacht Race, Ireland’s premier offshore sailing event. Businesses on the Main Street played their part by putting on a wonderful Window display.

Upside down in the sand

Pride of Wicklow - Go for it guys.

Lighting the way!

A touch of class.

Sponsorship is always a desirable assistance in the fundraising efforts of any committee and SailFest and Wicklow Sailing Club were very grateful for the support of local businessman, Roy Conway amd his company, Conway Media. A good chairman also helps tick all the boxes and harness the energies of the committee. SailFest was blessed in finding Pascal Burke of Burke Oil. Many is the night he burnt the proverbial midnight oil.

Roy Conway and Pascal Burke

For 2012, a new chairman has taken up the reins, John Sinnott of Sinnott Autos. With an equally energetic committee, he has started in a whirlwind. Already bag packs are in train, a Car Draw is up and running, a float will adorn the St Patricks Day Parade, a Road Race will take place in late April and more is in the pipeline. To harness the support of local businesses and community organisations, an information evening will be held in Wicklow Gaol on Tuesday 13th March at 6.30pm. All interested in supporting the efforts of the SailFest committee are welcome to attend – complimentary refreshments supplied by Paul Smith and Padraig Humby of Diageo.

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Just thought you might enjoy another look at the girls!!!

Thanks for your support. Looking forward to seeing you aboard fot the 2012 Round Ireland SailFest and Yacht Race.

I spent the night applying the tan to them – just to help make them look good for you!

Walk to Wicklow Head blocked

 

Wicklow Head Lighthouse

 For many generations of Wicklow people, the coastal walk out to Wicklow Head Lighthouse has been a source of exercise, pleasure and previously, for the light keepers, their pathway to work. The path skirts Wicklow Golf Club and the latter part, farmland. It is beautiful and has many features to attract sightseers, nature lovers, walkers and romantics of all ages. However, in the recent past this path has been blocked, which has created problems for people searching the coast for a probable drowned loved one.

There is a long established right of way along the path, which has been used on a daily basis, weather permitting. A number of years ago, the local council erected signs and a barrier at the Glen Turn (about half way along the path) to warn walkers that the cliff was dangerous and prevent access. This was soon dismantled by locals who were very upset at the intervention of their councillors in restricting acess to their cherished walkway. It has remained down ever since.

 

In the last few months, another barrier suddenly appeared out near the end of the walk, where it joins the Lighthouse access road. A crude barbed wire fence was erected on an old stone wall where walkers exited the coastal path. In addition to the wire, a dense mix of oils and animal fats was applied to the posts to upset unwary walkers who might touch same. This was again dismantled and access re-established.

 

Barbed wire barrier on stone wall

More recently, as in the last week or so, a more comprehensive set of barriers has been erected at the same exit area, which all but makes it impossible for walkers to get through. The farmer in question is also apparently taking photographs of “trespassers” and notifying the Gardai. With a long established right of way, he surely cannot have any legal right to deny any walkers access to this area.

 

As a compromise, surely it would be feasible for him to consider erecting a suitable stile at the wall, to allow access to all who wish to enjoy the area. It might even be possible to get a group of those who are regular users to build one, at no cost to the farmer in question.

 

This matter has taken a serious turn this week. An unfortunate incident involving a missing person, believed drowned in Wicklow Harbour, has necessitated a lot of search activity along the local coastline. This barrier has proved to be a major impediment to allowing concerned searchers follow the coast out as far as Wicklow Head. Those concerned are very upset at this obstruction to their efforts, necessitating a long detour to complete their regular sweeps as they keep a vigilant lookout.

 

New pathway opened by Wicklow Co. Co. 22.02.2012

The County Council have today by-passed this barrier by creating a new opening a short distance from the offending structure. The question now is – will it be allowed to remain in place without interference from the landowner? Fingers crossed, our pathway will remain open for all concerned and allow the joy of the Wicklow Head coastal walk to be available to locals and tourists alike.

 

Our beautiful coastline should be available to all to enjoy. Farmers and landowners are entitled to respect for their property and livestock but should also have consideration for the rights of others. Live and let live.

Captain John Murray Aviation Hero

This article is only a re-posting of an account of the heroism of the pilot of a Super Constellation airplane in 1962 off the west coast of Ireland. The pilot, Captain John Murray, was the father of my very good friend, Barbara Murray, who grew up in Wicklow Town (where I met her), after his untimely death from a diving accident. She was 7 when he died.·                                

Captain John Murray (father of Barbara Murray)

Originally posted on November 26, 2011 by irishocaruso

Captain John D. Murray, 44, of Oyster Bay, Long Island, knew 76 lives were at stake as he slowly brought down the Super Constellation in preparation for ditching in the howling winds and raging waves of the cold north Atlantic.

He faced a dilemma as he searched his way through the darkness: he could follow the recommended ditching strategy of putting the plane down between the troughs, or take advantage of the 50-knot winds at sea level, which would cut his landing speed in half. His challenge was to get the plane down, either way, in the dark, in a gale, with 20 foot waves and with no power left to recover for a second attempt if he didn’t get it right the first time.

To the passengers inside the cabin, the crash felt as if the plane had made a classic belly-whopper.

It was a violent thud that broke open the hull and tore of a wing. In view of the conditions, the ditching was a success, a combination of his skill and a miracle.

Reports of the ditching say the aircraft sank somewhere between two minutes and ten minutes, probably closer to the ten minute side.

Captain Murray hit his head on the control panel and was bleeding to the extent that he could hardly see. He made his way out and was most likely the last man out. He was very late getting to the raft. It was filled far beyond capacity. He was pulled in and he sat on the lap of a serviceman.

Evidently the crew was aware of a possible rescue ship, but thought it might be 12 hours off. An aircraft had been following the Flying Tiger right up to its contact with the waves. That aircraft, a US Air Force plane on its way from Prescott, Scotland to Nova Scotia had diverted in response to the SOS. Because it had been following so close, it knew the position of raft and soon began dropping flares to mark the location.

The raft had inflated upside-down, placing the emergency lighting along the upper rim deep into the water, making it useless. The emergency kit that contained first aid materials and a badly needed flashlight was out of reach as well. Those items were zipped in the raft’s emergency pouch which was now facing down into the water.

The raft drifted at a rapid clip for nearly six hours, covering about 22 miles in that time. Waves that seemed to glow in the dark splashed over the passengers, delivering a frigid chill every time.

Finally a rescue ship came into sight, the Celerina, a Swiss freighter. Due to the size of the waves, the recovery was handled with care. Rope ladders were thrown out to the raft and people began to cling to them. The crew pulled the ladders up with passengers clinging to them, taking them into safety. Captain Murray was again one of the last to get off the raft. When he had nearly reached the top, the ship pitched and he fell off, sinking into the dark waters along side of the raft. A trooper grabbed his life vest and pulled him back into the raft. He made it into the ship on his second try.

Capt. Murray at CAB

There have been many news stories about Captain Murray’s role in the recovery. The Saturday Evening Post ran a photo feature that included a sketching of the jam packed raft being tossed among the waves.

Fortunately for the survivors, Captain Murray was a flying pro! Had he not been, the outcome might have been far more disastrous.

According the Civil Aeronautics Board report adopted September 10, 1963, Captain Murray had a total of 17,500 flying hours, of which 4,300 were in the L-1049 type aircraft. His last FAA first class physical examination was passed on June 16, 1962 (limitation – reading glasses). He had flown 247.4 hours, 172.9 in L-1049s in the last 90 days; 72.6 hours, 41.2 in L-1049s in the past 30 days; and had 33 hours of rest prior to the flight. He knew flying and he knew the L-1049.

Months after the crash, Captain Murray relocated his family from the states to Shannon, Ireland, where he continued to work for the Flying Tiger Lines. Tragically, he died some six years later in a scuba diving accident off the coast of Australia. We are seeking comments from those who had contact with Murray.

About irishocaruso
Survivor of the crash of Flying Tiger 923. at night, at sea, 500 miles off the west coast of Ireland, with 28 deaths and 48 survivors, September 23, 1962.
View all relevant posts by irishocaruso → http://flyingtiger923.com/author/irishocaruso/

Facing our Mortality

Since my feeble effort to raise funds for Prostate Cancer Ireland by growing a mustache during Movember, I have received news that another good friend of mine is undergoing tests for same. As one of the most frequently diagnosed forms, after lung and breast cancer, it is comforting to know that with early diagnosis, a 90% survival rate is now common. It still triggers fears for their mortality in the sufferer and it will only ease as a worry when they get the all clear.

Several of my friends and a first cousin have had encounters with this particular form over the last few years and thankfully, all are still with us enjoying life as survivors. While chemotherapy, radium treatment and radical surgery can have long term consequences for the survivor, especially in the bedroom, the price is a relatively small one as long as they can have a reasonable quality of life. An uncle of mine with lung cancer and another first cousin with breast cancer were not so lucky in the last few years.

Those of us lucky enough to have avoided the Big C have a responsibility to do our bit to help the experts develop further tests and treatments for this potentially killer disease which is no respector of status or privilege in society. Every citizen in this country has had contact with victims of cancer, either family members, close friends or acquaintences and has felt the pain of their loss when their life has been cruelly shortened by an insidious invader.

While I have escaped cancer so far, on another front, I have had to deal my mortality through my battle with Bi-Polar Disorder or Manic Depression. When I was diagnosed in my mid-20′s, I had gone through a summer of total madness, with episodes of extreme elation countered by deep depressions. In one of those depressions, the hole was so black, I could see no other way out than through the end of a shotgun. As you are reading this 30 years later, it didn’t happen.

With a lengthy stay in St. John of God’s Hospital,  Stillorgan, I responded to treatment and started the next phase of my life with a new badge to get used to. It took me a long time to accept that I was now offically a fruit cake, albeit one with a reasonable chance of living a normal life aided by medication. I thought I was cured after a few years and chose to live my life drug free. My coping mechanisms were reasonably strong and I survived some more minor episodes until a major disappointment triggered another deep depression about 10 years later. This time, I knew I was in trouble and took myself to hospital for treatment.

My psychiatrist convinced me to go on a different treatment this time – Lithium, a naturally occuring salt – and with him holding my hand, I tried it out and 20 years later, am still functioning reasonably well. It creates a balance in the brain’s electrical impulses, evening out the up/down episodes to allow us MD’s carry on reasonable lives. For me it has been a life saver.

Unfortunately, depression can also be triggered by relationship failures, job loss, financial worries, bullying and a host of other factors. Like the Big C, it is no respector of status either and can strike into the heart of the most robust families and groupings, causing grief and distress for those trying to cope with its knock on effects. Some sufferers are past masters at hiding the pain from their nearest and dearest, leaving those around them at a complete loss of understanding, if they take the ultimate step.

Such is a case that occurred in my circle of friends recently. My pal was a very outgoing bubbly sort of character, who had time for everyone and always had a joke or story whenever we met. He had a couple of businesses on the Main St. and everyone in the town knew and loved him. In our club, he had a long history of getting stuck in, having held all the senior positions over a number of years. Like many small businesses, the recession was hurting and he chose to close one of his shops after 21 years of trading.

Whether this was the trigger or some other issue unknown to us, he seems to have snapped and made a fatal decision to end it all by drowning himself. His wife, 3 children, father, brothers, sisters and extended family and large circle of friends are at a total loss as to why this should have happened. His funeral was one of largest ever seen in Wicklow and was testament to the high regard he and his family are held in the town.

Having tottered on the brink several times, I know what the darkness in my head was saying to me so I can only assume that the same darkness engulfed my pal, but he didn’t hesitate, unfortunately. With cancer, other illnessess or even a traffic accident, we can rationalise why we might lose a loved one. However, unless someone leaves a strong clue or note, a fatal depression often leaves nothing but angst and heartache. We tend to blame ourselves for not seeing the signs or maybe, for not responding to an issue that we think, in hindsight, might  have been simmering. The reality is, the person makes the decision for their own reasons and often, it has nothing to do with others in his/her immediate vicinity. It is selfish, it can be devastating and answers are rarely readily available to ease the pain of those left behind.

For myself, I went into a dark place for a few days after his funeral. With a long history of dealing with my own depressive episodes, I have developed coping mechanisms to help me through these darknesses. While it didn’t get to a nadir where I was facing my mortality again, I’m glad that now I know my vulnerability and can reach for my lifeline. My pal didn’t know that he had so many lifelines available to him and the darkness engulfed him suddenly, snuffing out a wonderful life long before its sell-by-date.

For whatever reason, we all have to face our mortality. The older we get, the more likely the grim reaper will be knocking. For those with terminal illnesses such as untreatable cancers, the end of the road is well mapped, often masking the pain in cocktails of drugs and family and friends are reconciled to the loss. Those taken suddenly through heart attacks, accidents, shootings etc., the loss is traumatic for those left behind but at least they usually can come to terms with the loss in time. Suicide rarely leaves any comfort factors and those left behind are often wracked by guilt, on top of all the other grief issues.