New York 9/11 memorial award for Buncrana man

A Buncrana man has received a prestigious award in New York dedicated to a victim of the September 11 terror attack on the World Trade in 2001. Keelan McLaughlin, the youngest of nine children born to the late Charlie McLaughlin and his wife Peggy, Millbrae, was presented with the Damian Meehan Memorial Award at the Donegal Football Club New York 62nd anniversary banquet held in the Big Apple on Saturday last. The award was created by the club to honour team player Damian Meehan, a victim of the Al Queda terror attack on the twin towers. Keelan, chief executive of Crana Electric in the Bronx, received the award for his contribution to the club which he has sponsored for the past six years and for providing employment to Donegal students who cross the Altantic to play GAA. Speaking to the Inish Times, he said he was “delighted” to receive the award. He added: “I am very honoured. This means a lot to me as it was created in memory of Damian. He was a very special person and was a young family man of compassion, humour and wisdom.” Upon completing primary and secondary education in Buncrana, Keelan served his electrical apprenticeship in Derry before going to live and work in Dublin before moving to New York in 1998. As a proud ambassador of his native Donegal and Ireland, Keelan and Crana Electric Inc are also affiliated with various county associations and Irish charitable organisations in New York. Keelan currently resides in New York with his wife Elaine (nee Henderson, also from Buncrana) and son Tiernan.