‘I hope another community would help those in peril’

A priest and a retired fisherman have accepted a major award on behalf of an entire community which played a vital role in recovering the bodies of five fishermen who drowned off the West Cork coast.

On the week that marked the first anniversary of the Tit Bonhomme sinking, Bill Deasy and Fr Pierce Cormac received the Cork Person of the Year Award yesterday at a ceremony which was attended by President Michael D Higgins.

Fr Cormac said he and Mr Deasy represented a community which went through a difficult tragedy, but which led to people of all denominations coming together in an effort to find the missing Irish and Egyptian fishermen.

“We accept this award on behalf of those who lost loved ones and on behalf of the community,” Fr Cormac said. He added that if communities “channelled creativity and positive spirit” it would make the world a better place.

The two men helped to co-ordinate the 25-day search for the fishermen who drowned after their trawler sank at the mouth of Glandore Harbour on Jan 15, 2012.

The award winners received a standing ovation from the 250 guests at the ceremony in the Rochestown Park Hotel.

“It means a lot to get such an award in our own county. I hope, God forbid, that this never happens to another community. But if it does I would hope another community would come out and do what our community did and help those in trouble or peril,” Mr Deasy said.

The tragedy led to the largest and most concentrated search-and-recovery operation in the history of the State.

The Irish Coast Guard and Naval Service co-ordinated the search of Glandore Harbour, with assistance from the Civil Defence, gardaí, and hundreds of volunteers.

Their efforts resulted in the recovery of the bodies of crewmen Kevin Kershaw and Egyptians Wael Mahamed and Attaia Shaban within a few days.

But the search for the Irish skipper, Michael Hayes, and the remaining Egyptian crewman, Saied Ali Eldin, continued for more than three weeks until their bodies were also eventually found.

Meanwhile, for the first time in the 20-year-history of the ceremony — which is sponsored by the Irish Examiner, RTÉ, The Gleeson Group and Lexus Cork (Macroom Motors) — a special award was made to non-Corkonians who have contributed to the region.

The titles of Honorary Corkman and Corkwoman were presented to film producer David Puttnam and his wife, Patsy.

The couple have been community activists for more than 20 years in West Cork.

David, the Oscar-winning producer of film classics such as Chariots of Fire, The Killing Fields and The Mission, was recently appointed as the Government’s ‘Digital Champion for Ireland’.

“It’s fantastic to get this. For 24 years I’ve been coming to West Cork knowing I’m a blow-in. Now I feel I’m a de-blow-in,” Mr Puttnam said.