The Irish Naval Association (INA) have for the last couple of years been invited to Ballydavid in Kerry to take part in the Dingle Food Festival by our colleague in the INA Mr Michael Johnston.

We arrived on Friday the 29/9/17 some traveling by Car and others arriving by Bus and Train we came from Dublin -Waterford - Cork - and Limerick some with their wife's. Phil ( Michaels wife) and Michael invited us into their home where they had a big fire lighting plenty of sandwiches and some apple tarts for the weary travellers. After our cup of tea we made our way to our accommodation for the weekend some of us were in TP O Connors and some in Rita Begleys after a shower and a change of clothes we went to TPs for a lovely Dinner. After dinner we went into TPs Bar where there was music laid on for us for the evening as usual on these occasions we had some very good singers who made it a great evening.

Saturday 30/9/17.
Cars and drivers were available on the Saturday morning to take us into Dingle to make a collection on the streets of Dingle for the RNLI. We were rostered for two hour shifts. €3244 was collected during our 4 hours collecting.

Sunday 1/10/17.
Again as in the previous day, cars and drivers were available to bring us to the local church for Mass. It was a very special occasion for one of the priests Fr.Padraig, home after spending 50 years in Korea. We made a presentation to Fr.Padraig on the alter on this special occasion. Michael did us proud speaking so well in Irish, explaining what we were doing this weekend and what was going to happen later down on the Pier. The Ladies in our group brought Red Roses to the alter to remember the "Mna" who lost their lives at sea especially the captain of Rescue 116. I laid a Laural Wreath on behalf of the INA and Rita Begley laid a wreath of white flowers on behalf of the local community. Following the Mass all made their way back to Ballydavid for a short ceremony at the Flag Pole with the National Flag at half mast. The names of all those local people who lost their lives at sea were called out. A collection had been held and €116 was collected in memory of Rescue 116. I presented the €116 to the Local Priest Fr Eugene for the decking in the church.

Following the Mass all went to the Pier at Ballydavid where a short ceremony was held. Michael had made up boxes filled with sand that had the names of the local people who had lost their lives at sea were inscribed in the sand boxes. These Sand Boxes were laid at the water edge and when the tide came in it took the names out to sea. I also put our wreath at the water edge on behalf of the INA and again it to was washed out to sea. Michael Moore was our parade commander for the day and he did a fine job. To conclude the ceremony the parade was brought to attention the National Flag was hoisted to the full Mast and the National Anthem was played by a local youth on a Tin Whistle, After the ceremony we retired to TPs where finger food was laid on for us and a sing song started led by one of the Famous Begley Band members on a accordion.

Monday 2/10/17.
After breakfast we said our goodbyes to Michael and Phil who had really been great hosts for the weekend and those travelling by car to the different parts of the country. The rest of us boarded a Bus waiting to take us to Tralee and the Train home.

All the arrangements for the weekend IE Travel and Accommodation was made by Michael and our National PRO Mr Terry Cummins who did a great job.

Sin a Bhfuil
Bryan Gildea.
President of the INA