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Love amid WTC ruins

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Ray O’Hanlon

Dozens of Claddagh rings have been recovered by investigators sifting through the ruins of the World Trade Center.

The discovery of so many of the popular Irish rings, symbols of love, friendship and fidelity, have added yet another poignant twist to the recovery operation, now more than 5 weeks old.

The recovery of the rings was initially relayed by the NYPD to Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen during his recent visit to Ground Zero in lower Manhattan.

The recovery of the rings has since been referred to publicly by Gov. George Pataki who put a rough figure of 200 on the number of rings recovered.

Pataki mentioned the rings at the recent Flax Trust dinner at the Waldorf Hotel in Manhattan.

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One guest at the event said that a stunned hush had descended on the room when Pataki spoke of the rings.

“It took everybody aback. There was a clear sense in the room of sadness and also pride. I teared right up,” the guest said.

Sources told the Echo that the Claddagh rings had become the focus of particular concern after the family of one firefighter contacted the NYPD to say that the firefighter could be identified by a Claddagh ring.

The Claddagh rings could prove valuable in identifying likely victims of the WTC attack, especially if they have initials inscribed on them.

The Claddagh symbol is particularly familiar in ring form but also popular on bracelets and necklaces. It features a heart topped with a crown and clasped between two hands.

The three parts represent love, loyalty/fidelity and friendship.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed Irish dead at the World Trade Center has reached eight, according to Cowen.

Cowen, in a reply to a D_il question Tuesday, said that the figure of eight Irish dead was based on the names of Irish citizens compiled by and communicated to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“Unfortunately, although I believe this to be unlikely, there may have been other Irish citizens caught up in this tragedy who have not yet been notified to us,” Cowen said.

He said that he was aware of only one Irish-born person who was injured and hospitalized for a number of days after the Trade Center collapse. That person had been discharged and had returned to Ireland.

Meanwhile, in New York, an Irish Consulate spokesman told the Echo that inquiries into reports of four Cavan men hospitalized after the WTC collapse had “led nowhere.”

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