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WHEN Lithuanian immigrants chose Ballinrobe as the town in which they would seek a better life, they chose wisely, Asta Bautreniene told her audience last Sunday. As a huge crowd of her fellow countrymen, women and children gathered for a day of celebration in their adopted town, mixing with the local community in prayer, in song and in partaking of food, her words seemed to ring true.

TRIBUTE TO A HERO Pictured are Lithuanian officials alongside members of Ballinrobe community at the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the crash-landing of Lithuanian pilot, Felix Waitkus, in Ballinrobe 72 years ago. From left: Cllr Patsy O’Brien, Mary Gannon (Castlebar Library), Monsignor Tom Shannon, Isolda Brickoiskiene (Ambassador of Lithuania), Andreus Kuheniskas (Mayor of Kaunas), Jousas Olekas (Minister of National Defence of Lithuania), Cllr Damian Ryan, Patsy Murphy (organising committee, Ballinrobe).  Pic: Trish Forde

Over 100 Lithuanian nationals based in Ballinrobe and nearby towns joined with the Lithuanian Ambassador, the Lithuanian Minister of Defence, the Mayor of Kaunas, and a host of other dignitaries from the Baltic state to honour the memory of Felix Waitkus, whose attempt to fly solo across the Atlantic from New York to his homeland of Lithuania ended in a field outside Ballinrobe 72 years ago this month.

They were warmly received by the Ballinrobe community, who welcomed them first at a bilingual Mass in St Mary’s Church, then at the unveiling of a monument in Waitkus’s honour, close to The Green, and later at a special Lithuanian food fair and concert in the Crannmór Centre.

Welcoming the town’s special visitors at Mass on Sunday morning, Monsignor Tom Shannon said those who built the church in 1863 hardly envisaged that the seats on either side of its centre aisle would one day be filled with a Lithuanian congregation. He was joined on the altar by Fr Egidijus Arnasius, a Lithuanian priest who ministers to his people in Dublin and who travelled to Ballinrobe especially for the occasion. Fr Arnasius gave a welcome in Lithuanian at the start of the Mass and also recited the ‘Our Father’ in his native tongue, joined by a chorus of other Lithuanian voices around the church.

Later, at the unveiling of the monument, the Lithuanian Ambassador, Her Excellency Isolda Brickoiskiene, paid tribute to the people of Ballinrobe for reviving the memory of Felix Waitkus and for strengthening links between the two communities.

“I am delighted to be here in your cosy and welcoming town. Nothing can repay you for what you have done for the memory of Felix Waitkus and for your belief that a day like this could come to pass.

“Relations between countries are important, but relations between people are even more important. We are all like one, big, happy family here today,” she said.

The Minister of Defence, Mr Jousas Olekas, and the Mayor of Kaunas, Mr Andreus Kuheniskas also addressed the large and appreciative audience on behalf of the Lithuanian delegation. The Chairperson of the Lithuanian community in Poland, Ms Irena Gasharaviciute, also spoke.

Patsy Murphy from Ballinrobe, whose discovery last year of his father’s photos of the plane crash prompted him to re-ignite local interest in the story and to make contact with the Lithuanian Embassy, then gave the crowd an account of Felix Waitkus’s fascinating journey across the Atlantic and his crash-landing in Ballinrobe.

David Hall, Chairperson of Ballinrobe Community Development Council, welcomed the visiting dignitaries on behalf of the community and described the event as ‘a coming together of two nations’.

Fr Peter Hughes, whose father, Willie, was one of the people who came on the crash in a field in Cloongowla in 1935, blessed the monument, which was designed and shipped over to Ballinrobe by the Lithuanian Embassy.

The formalities concluded with the singing of songs and recitation of poetry by some Lithuanian children living in the Ballinrobe area.

After the unveiling, three trees were planted in the field at Cloongowla where the plane landed.

Afternoon tea in Ashford Castle followed for the official Lithuanian party and the local organising committee and invited guests.

A photographic exhibition – brought over from Lithuania – commemorating Felix Waitkus’s life and achievements took place in the Credit Union in the evening, and during the event the Lithuanian delegation formally donated the collection to the people of Ballinrobe.

The day’s events concluded with a feast of Lithuanian food and music in the Crannmór Centre, coupled with the beautiful harp playing of local musician, Deirdre Finnerty, and, inevitably, a rousing song from Mons Shannon.

Part of the Lithuanian delegation flew into Ireland West Airport Knock on Sunday morning and returned home that night.

A series of further events to commemorate Waitkus are taking place around the country in the coming weeks, including a photographic exhibition in Galway’s Town Hall Theatre next Thursday, October 11, and an economic and cultural fair, plus a Lithuanian concert, in the Black Box Theatre in Galway on next Friday and Saturday, October 12 and 13.

By Denise Horan