A Hero
The inscription on the seat reads:
"We will remember you always.
As sea touches sand,
Our Hero
Our Angel,placed back
Into Gods hands".
In Memory of Jonathan Herlihy
who gave his life on this beach on 3rdSept.2006.
so that others may live.
This is the memorial seat on the beach of Owenahincha in West Cork,dedicated to the memory and heroic action of Jonathan Herlihy. On the 3rd of September,2006, Jonathan was strolling along the strand when he noticed two swimmers had gotten into difficulties. Along with another passer-by,Peter O'Keefe, Jonathan grabbed a lifebuoy and ran into the water to help them.Despite pleas from his mother and grandfather that the conditions in the water were too dangerous, Jonathan and Peter reached the distraught swimmers,and managed to convey them to safety.The valiant rescuers however were tragically swept back out to sea by a wave and drowned.Jonathan,aged only 23 was a student at U.C.C. and a keen sportsman.
On a recent trip to Owenahincha Mags and I sat on the beautiful marble seat erected by the Herlihy family and read the touching inscription recalling the fateful events of that September day. Sitting there surveying the panoramic vista of the golden beach stretching off into the distance and looking out onto the restless sea, we were touched by the gallant intervention of Jonathan which saved two lives from certain drowning,giving his own in the process.
I am reminded of Jesus words in John 15:13 "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends".Sometimes we become cynical about human nature,and yet here was a man who gave his life for total strangers ! Surely this reminds us of our higher destiny created in us by God himself,and hidden in the deep deep heart of our being.Flashes of our lost heritage recall for us the image in which the Creator originally shaped us,and the restoration of that relationship through the sacrifice of one man,Jesus on the cross!
As the waves dash against the sands of Owenahincha,and I reflect on the memorial there to Jonathan Herlihy's selfless act...I am reminded also of the depths of Christs suffering for us in restoring the possibility of connection once more with the Father. Though marred and scarred by our sins there is a tide that flows from Calvary which washes white as snow! May we all by the grace of God come to Him who gave His life for us, and loves us with an everlasting love.
Gerard O'Shea
2 comments:
So glad that Jonathan touched your life, he was my cousin. He is a true hero and may he rest in God's hands.
He surely was a hero and the monument is a worthy reminder of his heroic act on that day. I'm sure as his cosin you always knew the worth of the man, but I as a stanger can appreciate someting of his valour from the retelling of his action on that fateful day. If you have any further details of your cousin I would be glad to publish them in a blog. If you wish, leave your recollections in this 'comment' section and I will put them up in a blog, and if you have a photo of John you can e mail it to me at gerard.shea@gmail.com. Thanks for making contact and I'm looking forward to hearing from you...Gerard
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