By Brian McDaid
ON Saturday afternoon last, a very special guest was invited to take part in a testing session in an iconic M3 BMW.
Earlier this year well known rally navigator, Letterkenny’s Rory Kennedy was in his car, with the radio on, and he was taken by an interview on RTÉ radio where a Donegal mother recalled the rescue that her quick thinking teenage son carried out at a beach along the Donegal coast.
15-year-old Declan Meehan was out swimming on a summer’s day back in August with friends in Gaoth Dobhair when he spotted another group of swimmers, one of whom had got into difficulty.
Declan swam out to the 12-year-old boy, Peadar, and using the skill he learned in a water lifesaving course, assured the distressed swimmer, telling him: ‘I won’t leave you alone’.
Declan managed to calm the young boy, telling him to hold on to him and that he would take him back to shore.
Declan brought Peadar to safety much to the relief of his mother Patricia who was on the shore and witnessed the heroic act, along with Declan’s mother Frances.
What makes the rescue all the more amazing is that Declan himself had suffered a bleed on the brain when he was just five. He lost the power of his left arm and half of the power in his leg and his family were told that he may never walk or talk again.
As the interview on radio ended, Rory was captivated by the story of a young hero who has fought his own physical difficulties with determination, even completing water safety training on his long road to recovery.
Rory decided he was going to track down Declan and organise a small gesture of appreciation to mark his heroic act.
Declan gets his HANS safety device and helmet fitted by Rory Kennedy before he starts his special run.
On Saturday afternoon young Declan, his father, Brian, and Declan’s cousin Lee were guests of Donagh Kelly and Rory Kennedy and their service crew as they made their final adjustment to their Killarney winning BMW M3. They’re preparing to defend last year’s win in Kerry at the end of this month.
Declan arrived as the crew were setting up and was welcomed by Donagh and Rory. He got to watch the crew putting the car through its paces, checking tyres and suspensions before Declan was prepared for his run in the navigator’s seat.
Declan was donned in race wear borrowed from Donagh’s son Eamonn. Before setting off, he was fitted out in the full safety harness, HANS set and helmet, complete with intercoms to communicate with his driver Donagh.
Declan Meehan with Donagh Kelly on his run in the BMW M3 rally car at the weekend.
The crew took off gently enough to ensure that Declan was comfortable in the rally car, but it wasn’t long until the glorious sound of the Bavarian engine was bouncing off the forest trees as they arrived at full chant down the special road set up.
The BMW is left hand drive so the navigator Declan was sitting on the right hand side of the car. Just as the run was coming to an end Donagh brought the car round on the road and headed for another spin, much to the enjoyment of the young Gortahork man.
Declan was overjoyed, along with his parents, at this lovely gesture by this local rallying crew who wanted to recognise this very humble but very determined young hero.
Catching up with Declan’s mother Frances this week she told the Donegal News that her son hasn’t stopped chatting about his run in the rally car at the weekend. She told how every so often Declan shows his mother (who wasn’t at the rally run) a video that he recorded on board the rally car.
Declan Meehan with rally team of Rory Kennedy and Donagh Kelly who gave the the young Gortahork man a special run in a rally car. Photo Brian McDaid.
Declan is not allowed to use his mobile phone at school so he is waiting hard on the Donegal News this Thursday morning to read the article that will show his trip in a rally car was real – something that he still sometimes thinks was only a dream.
Declan’s big interests are swimming, gaming and pool, and after the weekend rallying is up there now.
It was an opportunity of a lifetime for this young Gortahork lad.
Brian Meehan gets his son Declan into the special five point seatbelts under the supervision of Rory Kennedy before the special run in the rally car.
