FDNY firefighters plant ground zero tree at Cork 9/11 memorial

They also raised money for the Friends of Firefighters of New York (FFNY) and an Irish charity, Aoibheann’s Pink Tie.

FFNY provides free mental health counselling and wellness services to active and retired NY firefighters and their family members. 

Aoibheann’s Pink Tie was founded in 2010 by Mick Rochford and Jimmy Norman in memory of Jimmy’s beloved daughter, Aoibheann, who died from a rare type of cancer, aged eight. It helps children, and their families, during their battle with cancer.

FDNY battalion chief Danny Sheridan, a third-generation Irish American, came up with the bike ride idea with his friend, firefighter Pete McLoughlin, in 1992.

However, tragically, Pete, died battling a fire in Queens on October 8, 1995.

Mr Sheridan, who was at ground zero on 9/11 in 2001 shortly after the second tower fell, said the thoughts of his fallen friends kept him going during the 225-mile cycle. He said: 

I lost so many friends that day, and I still continue to lose guys. As we’re riding through, it’s like a remembrance. I carry all those guys with me.

Retired FDNY firefighter, Danny Manning, 71, a fireman for 23 years with Ladder Company 43 in east Harlem, responded to ground zero in 2001 and lost friends and colleagues in the attack. He said the memorial garden in Kinsale means so much to all those who lost loved ones that day.

Former Seattle, Washington firefighter Tony Lenseigne at one of the memorials for Lt Kevin Donnelly of Ladder 3 FDNY. Tony left a bottle of whiskey in tribute to his fallen comrade. Picture: Dan Linehan

“This is a living memorial here, and it’s a living memorial with the trees that continue to flourish, they continue to blossom, and they continue to grow,” he said.

The firefighters departed the US ambassador's residence in the Phoenix Park in Dublin on Monday and travelled down the east coast, calling to fire stations in Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, and Cork, before arriving at Kinsale Fire Station on Wednesday — the 23rd anniversary of 9/11.

Station officer David O’Donovan and his colleagues escorted them to the town’s 9/11 remembrance garden at Ringfinnan which commemorates the 343 FDNY firefighters and their chaplain Fr Mychal Judge who died in the World Trade Center attack.

Kevin O'Brien, Tom Goulding, Denis McCarthy, and John Kearney of Cobh ONE at the Kinsale 9/11 memorial. The 90-strong cycle from Dublin to Cork raised funds for Friends of Firefighters of New York, and Aoibheann’s Pink Tie. Picture: Dan Linehan

There they planted a sapling, taken from the so-called ‘Survivor Tree’, which was the only living thing to survive the attacks on the Twin Towers.

Mr Norman  also joined the cycle and said he will forever remember how Aoibheann’s memory was honoured with a giant sand art portrait on Kilmurrin Cove in Waterford, created by artist Sean Corcoran and his friend Joe Lonergan.

“I have never been so moved in my life. I will never forget,” Jimmy said.

Mr Corcoran said he was surprised at how emotional the cyclists’ stop at the cove was to view the art work: 

Aoibheann would have been 23 years old now if she had survived cancer. Somehow I think I’ve captured something of a timeless portrait of her. 

A total of 2,997 people were killed in the September 11 terror attacks on the twin towers, the Pentagon, and in United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed into a Pennsylvania field.

• Donations can be made to Aoibheann's Pink Tie Charity at AoibheannsPinkTie.ie