AN airman who sacrificed his own life to save a town is going to be remembered in a Zoom ceremony on Wednesday night at the moment he crashed 76 years ago. In normal times, at 8.49pm on the anniversary of Pilot Office William McMullen’s death, a crowd gathers near the spot where he made the ultimate sacrifice to remember his heroism. McMullen could have jumped from his stricken bomber but instead stayed at the controls to steer it away from the houses of Darlington. Last year, on the 75th anniversary, the nation was battling Storm Brendan but still well over 100 people turned up at the monument in McMullen Road to pay their respects.
Community spirit shone through pandemic darkness
Updated / Sunday, 3 Jan 2021
07:17
North West Correspondent
There was one day this year when I laughed all the way through the job I was on and couldn t keep the smile off my face for nearly a week afterwards.
It wasn’t even on my own patch. It was my weekend on duty covering the midlands, west and north west. I was thrown a long-shot - was there any way I could track down a pair of newly-weds in their 80s in Offaly and see if would they do an interview? Sure I’ll give it a try , I said, not knowing this would become the highlight of my working year.
A year in pictures: Unforgettable images of 2020
From Black Lives Matter protests, to a global pandemic and Donald Trump, 2020 will be talked about for years to come.
• 4 Jan 2021
Bushfires rage out of control in Australia
Bushfires burn dangerously out of control on Australia s east coast, fanned by high temperatures and strong winds that have firefighters battling to save lives and property, as a change in wind conditions merged several large fire fronts.
Iranian general killed by US military via drone strike
On 2 January the US killed Iranian Major-General Qasem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force and architect of Iran s spreading military influence in the Middle East, in an air strike at Baghdad airport.
Big Quiz of 2020: Test your Limerick knowledge and you could win a Bestie Break away
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Take part in our Big 2020 Quiz and you could be in with a chance of winning a fantastic Bestie Break away, including
breakfast and a three-course dinner, at Kinsale Hotel & Spa.
To enter the quiz, simply email your answers to christmasquiz@limerickleader.ie by 6pm on Friday, January 8 - winners details will be published in the Limerick Leader print editions and online.
1. Name the Danish retailer that opened its first store in Limerick in March?
3. Last year’s (2019) National Lottery Christmas Millionaire Raffle was sold at a Centra store in which Limerick town?