Family Of 9/11 Hero's Pride Over First Certificate Of Irish Heritage

"It's definitely going to hang! Are you kidding me?!" said Bridget Hunter, when asked what she would be doing with the first ever Certificate of Irish Heritage, which was presented to her on behalf of her son by Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore in New York last week.

"It's going to be right in front of everybody when they walk into my house."

Mrs Hunter emigrated from Recess, Co. Galway in 1958. Her son Joe was last seen walking into the south Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001 to help people escape.

The story of Joe Hunter first came to public attention, when it was featured in an RTE Radio documentary "Still Waiting for Joe" broadcast at the end of August.

The Department of Foreign Affairs approached the family to see if they would like to receive the honor of getting the first certificate.

"(Joe) ended up losing his life in the Twin Towers, attempting to save the lives of others, and attempting to ease the suffering that was taking place on that occasion," said Mr Gilmore at the brief ceremony at Mapeth Fire House in Queens last week.

"I don't think there is anybody more fitting to get the first Certificate of Irish Heritage than somebody who made such a sacrifice."

He said Ireland was proud of the sacrifice made by all Irish-American firefighters on that day.

The presentation was attended by the Chief of the Fire Department of New York Ed Kilduff, who said it was "an extraordinary honor" to have one of its own singled out to receive the first certificate.

He said photographs from the event will be distributed to the large contingent of Irish Americans in the Fire Department, to show that "the Irish government, by coming here to this location, is really expressing their appreciation to all firefighters".

The event was also attended by FDNY chaplain Chris Keenan, Ireland's ambassador to the US Michael Collins, Irish Consul-General in New York Noel Kilkenny and members of the Hunter family.

Joe Hunter was a quiet and reserved guy, according to his brother Sean.

"He actually would have been embarrassed by all this attention, but he would be really honored too" he said.

Joe's sister Teresa said her late brother was fiercely proud of his Irish heritage.

"He had an Irish shamrock on his racing helmet, he had an Irish shamrock on his car, he had an Irish shamrock everywhere. So this is a tremendous honor," she said.

"We have such a large family here. My mom is one of 14, and we have about 50 first cousins, who are scattered all over here. Not just for our family, but also our friends, this is overwhelming.

"It's hard to put into words, being the first of something that's going to be now carried on for years to come in Ireland, America and the whole world."

The scheme to provide Certificates to Irish diaspora around the world will be formally launched next month at Dublin Castle during the upcoming Global Irish Economic Forum.

It's expected that former US President Bill Clinton will be presented with the second Certificate of Irish Heritage at that event.