An American navy warship arrived in west Cork yesterday to take part in a four-day celebration of Irish heritage and a commemoration of five Irish-American brothers.
The impressive ship USS Sullivans and its crew of 370 anchored off the coast of Beara yesterday morning, where preparations were underway for the 400th anniversary of the epic march of O'Sullivan Bere from west Cork to Leitrim in 1603.
Entitled "The Return of the Clan", the west Cork festival will centre on a commemoration of five Irish-American brothers who were killed in one of the worst tragedies to befall the US navy.
In 1942 five Sullivan brothers - George, Francis, Madison, Joseph and Albert Sullivan from Waterloo, Iowa, were all killed when a Japanese submarine torpedoed their ship, the USS Juneau, at the battle of Guadalcanal. The story of the brothers - who ranged in ages 20 to 28 - has been described as the greatest single sacrifice by any one family during the second World War.
In recognition of their bravery, two US navy ships were commissioned in their honour, one in 1943, which currently resides in a naval museum, and one in 1997.
Today the US warship and Irish Naval Service ships will lead a flotilla of boats in the bay off Adrigole, the ancestral home of the Sullivan family.
A granddaughter of Albert Sullivan - Ms Kelly Sullivan Loughren will unveil a plaque dedicated to the bravery of the brothers - before a host of dignitaries including former US ambassador Mr Mike Sullivan.
Gardaí and the Naval Service were working together yesterday to maintain a high level of security around the the warship, in anticipation of interest from an influx of visitors to west Cork over the weekend.