Fitting Tribute to Athenry Citizen

Source: Connacht Tribune, 25.09.1926, page 17

In a changing world, Bravery, unlike most other things, never goes out of fashion. In the absence of Canon Farragher, P.P., the citizens of Athenry decided at a public meeting presided over by Father Walsh, C.C. on Sunday, that a public testimonial should be opened for Mr. Michael Mulkerrins, a non-swimmer, who on the preceding Sunday had saved Mr. Joseph McCabe from drowning in the Kilcolgan river.

The motion to open the testimonial was proposed by Mr. T. D. Higgins, the fund to close on October 1. Mr. C. Daly proposed that a special committee be formed to deal with the matter, and a committee was thereupon formed with Mr. Taylor as hon. secretary and Mr. Daly as treasurer.

Mr. Monahan moved that the action of Michael Mulkerrins should be brought before the Royal Humane Society and the Carnegie Fund trustees. It was mentioned during the discussion that Mulkerrins was a young married man with one child, and that he was a non-swimmer.

On the motion of Mr. Joseph Sweeney, it was resolved that the citizens should convey to Guard McGuire, of Clarinbridge, and to Surgeon-Captain Mullin, M.C., their sincere gratitude for their efforts on the occasion. Dr. Foley mentioned the ancient procedure when such meetings were hold in Athenry and expressed his pleasure at seeing the people meeting together for such a splendid purpose as the rewarding of a brave deed.

16.10.1926

MULKERINS TESTIMONIAL SUBSCRIPTION LIST

The Committee has received the following letter.

Dear Sir,

I have just read an account of the bravery of Michael Mulkerrins in rescuing Mr. McCabe from drowning at Kilcolgan, and that a public testimonial was to be opened for him in recognition of his brave deed. I should like to be allowed to subscribe to the testimonial, and am enclosing one Pound for that purpose. I know Mulkerrins well when I was in Ireland, as he was in my service for some time.

I hope his action will be brought before the Royal Humane Society and the Carnegie Fund Trustees.

The citizens of Athenry should be very proud of him.

Yours truly,

J.PICKERSGILL.

The Elms, Castor, Peterbodough, 1st October, 1926.

SUBSCRIPTION LIST

£2. 0. 0.:

Col. E. G. Concannon, Rockfield, Athenry,

£1 each:

J. Pickersgill. Esq.; Dr. C. H. Foley, Athenry: Christopher Daly, Athenry; Joseph Greene, Loughrea;  William Duffy, do.; Thos. Higgins, Athenry; Joseph M. Sweeney, do.; Rev. T. Fahy, Maynooth; Rev. Fr. Walsh, C.C., Athenry; Rev. E. McGough, Moylough ; Rev. Canon Farragher, Athenry; W. P. Higgins, Rivcrsdale, do.; Thos. B. Flynn, Binn; Mrs. B. K. Ruane and family. Athenry; Joseph Sweeney, senr.. Athenry; Messrs. Leo and Vincent Mahon. do.

11 shillings:

Staff, Railway Hotel, Athenrv.

10 shillings and 6 pence each:

J. Holland, Birr; E. J. Fitzsimmons, Athenry; W. J. Martyn, Loughrca; E. MacPhersen, Athenry; P. McDonagh. The Villa, do.

10 shillings each:

Mrs. Margaret Broderick, Athenry; Admirer of Pluck: Mr. Walsh, N.T., Athenry; Ml. Hcssion, do.: J. T. Sweeney, do.: P. J. Finnerty. do.; J. J. Broderick, T.D, do.; Rev. Wm. Hcaney, Leanane; Rev. Fr. Trcacy, Esker, Athenry; Gerard Lynch, Athenry: Mrs. Alice Kenny, Dublin; Robert D. Kenny, do.; Thos. J. Kenny, do.; Mrs. Lizzie Stratton, Loughrca; Robert Powell, junr., Attymon; Wm. Hurley, do.: R.W. Kinneen, Galway; Connacht Tribune, Galway; Thos. Lannon, Agric Station, Athenry; Francis Sweeney. Athenry; Miss B. Sweeney, do.; L. P. Lardincr, do.; W. H. Murphy, Tiaquin; Jas. Cagney, M. and L. Bank, Athenry; James Payne, Athenry; Thos. McD Kelly, M.R.C.V.S., Athenry; Herbert V. Taylor, do.

5 shillings each:

Mr. Maher, P.O., Athenry; Miss Leonard, Athenry; Miss Julia Morrissey, do.; Wm. O’Connor, do.: Miss M. Duffy do.; Mrs. F. Woods, do.; Wm. O’Reilly, do; James Plunkett, do; John Monaghan, Ivy Mount, Athenry; Thomas Tighe, Ulster Bank, Athenry; Rev. J. J. North Bomford, Athenry; Mrs. Kate Fallon, do.; M. Farrell, do.; Ml. Collins, do.; Joseph Manning, do.; Patk. Dooley, Cartore; Christopher Condron, Athcnry; Patrick Quinn. do.; J. Conway, do.

3 shillings each:

Tom Rielly, Athenry; T. Everard. do.

2 shillings and 6 pence each:

A. Forde. Athenry: James Fahy, do.; Ml. Goode, do.; Margt. A. Clancy, do.; Mr. O’Mara, Monivea; Sergt. Rafferty, do.; Miss Carney, Athenry; Miss Margaret Powell, do.; Miss Poniard. do.; Ml. Whelan, do.; Miss Mary Fallon, Dublin; Patk. Egan, Athenry: Patk. Brennan, do.: W. P. Bonham, do; MI. Walsh, do.; Martin Walsh, do.; Jas. Barret, do.; Thos. Coen, do.; Miss Hansberry, do.; Thos. Riellv, do. Thos. Cleary, junr.,  do.        ‘ 1

2 shillings. each:

Mrs. Rielly, Athenry; B. Flanagan, do.; Patk. McNamara, do.: P. J. McQualter, do.; Ml. Moran, do,; Martin Dooley, do.; Mr. Tom Dunne, Tiaquin.

I shillings. each:

Joe Egan, Athenry; J. McCormack, do; T. Rielly, do.; Ml. Greene, do.; Wm. Nyland, do.: Jas. Byrne, do.; Batty Cunniffe, do.; Ml. Higgins, do. Joseph. Higgins, do.

Total: £43 10s. Od.