Tragedy of seven airmen killed near Tuam

Date Published: 09-Aug-2007

MORE than 60 years after their plane crashed in North Galway, the heroism of the seven World War II airmen who were killed in the tragic accident were applauded during the unveiling of a memorial to them on Sunday.

Relatives of the airmen travelled from as far afield as California to watch as the stone memorial and garden at Ryehill, Lavally, Tuam — just 500 metres from where the RAF Halifax bomber went down on November 7, 1943 — was officially unveiled before a crowd of more than 300 family members; dignitaries; politicians and locals, three of whom were eyewitnesses to the crash.

The memorial was erected by the Old Tuam Society, in conjunction with Lavally school teacher Tony McHugh and the community itself.

For years, the people of North Galway knew little about the circumstances…..