Ann Marie Heffernan had only just given birth to her second child a little over a week ago in Mayo General Hospital when she received some sad news. Her father, Joe Armstrong, a 57-year-old CIE bus inspector at Ballina had passed away suddenly. Last October Ann Marie lost her husband, Michael, when he died while trying to reach four people who were trapped in a sea cave near Belderrig on the north Mayo coastline.
Mr Heffernan, who worked as safety and environmental officer at Asahi, was a leading and popular member of the Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club. Heffo, as he was affectionately known, was one of a team of volunteers and professionals called out by the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES) on October 25th, including local fishermen, Garda divers, lifeboat crew, coast and cliff rescue, fisheries board staff, doctors and nurses.
But given the location and conditions, the combined forces of the IMES coastal units, the RNLI Ballyglass lifeboat and the IMES Sikorsky helicopter from Shannon could only wait while the members of the local Grainne Uaile club and Garda sub-aqua unit tried to reach the marooned party.
Three of the four, who had put out in a currach to explore the sea cave on Horse Island on a rising tide, survived the 17-hour ordeal. Sadly, two of the three gardai who managed to haul the Murphy family out had to return for the bodies of Michael Heffernan and German businessman and currach owner Will von Below.
It is in tribute to such bravery that the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, intends to initiate valour awards. Meanwhile, his Government colleague, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Tom Moffatt, marked the establishment of the Michael Heffernan Memorial Trust Fund in Ballina last week.
The fund account at the Bank of Ireland in Pearse Street, Ballina, Co Mayo, is No 25232449, and the sort code is 90-52-72.
One of its three objectives it to erect a suitable monument to Heffo on the north Mayo coastline.