The monument on the prom in Tramore stands more prominently than ever today, as it marks 25 years since the tragic Rescue 111 helicopter crash.
On July 2, 1999 on an exceptionally foggy night, the Air Corps helicopter struck the sand-dunes in Tramore and crash catastrophically.
All four men on board Rescue 111, who had been returning from a rescue mission, died instantly on impact.
Sergeant Paddy Mooney, Corporal Niall Byrne, Captain Michael Baker, and Captain Dave O'Flaherty are remembered through a simple wooden cross erected at the crash site.
Furthermore, there is a substantial lit-up monument on the main promenade walk.
24-hour Service
Just the previous day, July 1st 1999, an important day was marked for the Irish Search and Rescue Services, as it marked the first day of 24-hour service in the South-East coast region.
The day was marked with media attention, cameras, crew, and publicity to emphasise the need and the importance of such a service.
However, the following day at approximately 8pm, a boat became lost at sea in the dense fog and place a call to the Irish Coast Guard.
That call was responded to by the team onboard Rescue 111 on their first night out.
Dense fog impeded their ability to return to base after responding to the call, and in the early hours of the morning, local emergency services were woken by the news that the helicopter had crashed.
It was established very soon after the Coast Guard began their initial search of the dunes at 1.30am that there were no survivors.
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