Aerospace engineer lauds Heroic Mayo book as ‘magnificent’
By Tom Gillespie
AN internationally renowned American aerospace engineer was so impressed with a book written by Michael Feeney, MBE, that he postponed his return to Baton Rouge for his 90th birthday celebrations in order to meet the Castlebar author.
Michael is the founder of the Mayo Peace Park and Garden of Remembrance in Castlebar and because of a recent illness was unable to promote the sales of his latest book, Heroic Mayo - a series of fascinating articles and stories about those with Mayo connections who served, fought and died in the world wars, in other overseas wars and on United Nations peacekeeping operations.
Aerospace engineer John J. Kelly had the distinction of leading the team that developed the valve structure that was used on the lunar landing craft in 1969.
Astronaut Neil Armstrong examined it before the space flight and he rang John after he returned to earth, with the immortal words: “Hi John, it worked.”
He also designed many other major projects including a war-time landing craft that could land tanks and heavy equipment.
Michael explained the meeting: “Last month I had major surgery in Galway and while I was convalescing at home I received a telephone call from Mr. Kelly - a tall, 90-year-old man with a great intellect. His mother was from Ballyhaunis and his father was from Co. Clare.
“He was given a present of my book, Heroic Mayo, and he was very impressed by it, so much so that he delayed his return to his home in Baton Rouge where he was going to celebrate his 90th birthday with his family and friends.
“He arrived at my home and my God he was a really clever and interesting man. He said he wanted to meet the author of Heroic Mayo, which he described as ‘a magnificent book’.
“We exchanged many stories and I was invited to meet with him again when I am back to full health and when he returns to Ireland.”
Heroic Mayo, which was endorsed on the Joe Duffy Liveline show as ‘a great book’, is a fast moving, lively and thought provoking book, that should stand the test of time as a historical record.
It features many previously unpublished personal family stories. A number of serious historical articles contributed by notable historians and journalists are also included.
While the book is essentially about Mayo it is a timeless reflection on a forgotten and ignored part of Irish history.
It is sobering to think that 1,249 Mayo men were killed in action during World War II. These figures do not include civilian casualties. Others died in South Korea, Spain, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Ukraine.