A memorial dedicated to those who perished in the 9/11 terrorist attacks has been unveiled in Roscommon by U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Dan Rooney.

Dan Rooney and his wife Patricia, whose family comes from Cloontia, just outside of Ballaghaderreen, traveled to the town last Friday for the special ceremony, which included a blessing by the Bishop of Achonry, Dr Brendan Kelly.

The memorial, the only one of its kind in Ireland, was conceived, designed and erected by the Ballaghaderreen Fire Brigade. 

“It has been a number of years in the making and was conceived as a way to express solidarity with our brotherhood, the firemen and policemen who lost their lives in 9/11 and to mark the sacrifice that was made by them,” Mícheál Frain, Station Officer at Ballaghaderreen Fire Station said.

During a brief address the ambassador thanked all of those who attended the ceremony, on behalf of President Barack Obama.

The memorial plaque of Irish limestone is embedded in an old Irish cut stone wall with a stone flag path leading into it. 

This July will mark Rooney’s three-year tenure as Ambassador. While no specific date for departure has been set, it is expected that he will step down from the position later this year.