Leitrim commemoration for chaplain killed in 9/11 attacks

One of the best known victims of the September 11th attacks in New York is to be commemorated on the anniversary of the atrocity in Leitrim.

A peace garden is to be dedicated to the memory of Fr Mychal Judge, chaplain of the New York City Fire Department in land previously owned by his family at Keshcarrigan, Co Leitrim, on Sunday, September 11th.

A poignant picture of Fr Judge being carried from the Twin Towers which was flashed around the world became one of the most enduring images of the tragedy. In 1926, Fr Judge's father Michael left Keshcarrigan and emigrated to the US where he married Leitrim woman Mary Fallon from Drumkeerin.

Fr Judge was a frequent visitor to Keshcarrigan and made his last trip to Leitrim the year before he died at the age of 63.

His twin sister, Dympna Jessich, will travel from the US to unveil the memorial in the peace garden in a scenic spot on the shores of Kesh lake.

She has donated the flags which draped her brother's casket - the US flag and the flag of the New York City Fire Department. Also attending the ceremony will be Fr Judge's successor as chaplain to the fire service, Fr Chris Keenan.

Lorna McCarthy, secretary of Keshcarrigan Development Association, said the community had been anxious to honour the memory of Fr Judge and others who died in violent circumstances.

"He was a frequent visitor and people still refer to the area where the peace garden is located as the Judge property," she explained. "We have been tossing around this idea for a few years and felt we could not let it go without doing something to honour Fr Mychal."