Louise Geaney
Twenty-five years after the worst maritime disaster in Irish history, the events of the tragedy in which 51 people perished remain firmly etched in the memory of those who witnessed it first-hand.
Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of the explosion of an oil tanker at Whiddy Island, off the coast of west Cork, an event which stunned the rural community of Bantry and left an indelible mark on its history.
A low-key commemorative Mass was held at St Finbarr's Church in Bantry yesterday morning in honour of those workers who died in the tragedy.
None of the families of the 42 French workers who died travelled to Ireland for the Mass.
But relatives of the Irish victims and representatives of the emergency services who were present on the night attended the ceremony.
Wreaths were also laid at a memorial cross that bears the names of those who died on that day 25 years ago.
In the early hours of January 8th, 1979, the community of Bantry was rocked by an explosion which was heard 25 miles away and lit up the sky like a fireball.
The Betelgeuse had been in the process of discharging 113,000 tonnes of fuel oil at the oil jetty when a fire took hold in the ship's hull, which quickly spread and led to the whole tanker exploding.