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Hundreds attend ceremony in memory of R116 crew in Dunmore East

Hundreds attend ceremony in memory of R116 crew in Dunmore East

Around 800 people attended an RNLI tribute for the crew of Rescue 116 in the region.

The coastguard helicopter crashed off the Mayo coast with all four crew members on board, one month ago this Easter.

Dunmore East, Tramore, Fethard and Kilmore Quay lifeboats along with Dunmore East Coast Guard set sail to lay wreaths at sea.

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Four flares were set off and a minute's silence observed for each of the missing crew - while Rescue 117 flew overhead.

Waterford Metropolitan Mayor John Hearne said it's, "a testament today in all the services turning out and all the crowds turning out.

Even this long after the tragedy shows how raw it still is for people because especially in fishing communities to bring people home is so important and sometimes we don't get them home.

I was just talking to lads below who lost brothers and sisters before and it is a scar, as they said.

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You wake up on the boat thinking about it, you think about it on Christmas day and you think about it on other days.

It's only when you go through it you realise it so a lot of people would have felt it before so that's why they're here to support the crew.

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