Ireland’s Military Story is the lead multimedia programme of The Irish Military Heritage Foundation CLG, RCN: 20203159.

Our Why –

To explore, record and tell Ireland’s military story and inspire others to do the same.

What We Do –

Bring together Ireland’s rich military heritage and tradition in all its manifestations across the island and the diaspora and help gain a better understanding of Ireland’s culture, heritage, and identity. Such exploration can help facilitate reconciliation.

How we do it –

Recording and preserving the personal stories told by serving personnel, veterans, and those that went before them is at the core of everything we do. By taking a multimedia approach the Ireland’s Military Story’s website and YouTube channel provide a platform with the latest news from those in service in Ireland and throughout the diaspora; promote Ireland’s military history and heritage; reach out to veterans to tell their story; and act as a conduit to help advocate and communicate for veterans’ charities/organisations and supports across the island of Ireland.

Programmes and projects ran through Ireland’s Military Story are developed by utilising multimedia formats including: online articles, digital media, live broadcasts, video production, and web production. Such an approach ensures that all ages and demographics are reached: historians, members of the public, diaspora, students, teachers, and tourists.

Multimedia projects are undertaken at a local and national level that explore specific areas of Ireland’s military story. In addition, our work is complemented by the research and contributions made by passionate archivists, curators, family descendants, genealogists, heritage officers, historians, and students.

All multimedia projects are designed and structured with education in mind; teachers, along with students and members of the public are able to access content for free and utilise on any digital platform.

Ireland’s Military Story began in 2014 as a print and digital magazine with a vision of exploring and bringing together all of Ireland’s rich military history and heritage from its past in all its manifestations; and to highlight and promote the impact and legacy of the Irish and its diaspora. The publication’s core values were based around telling the accounts of Ireland’s military tradition across the island of Ireland and its diaspora; specifically, through veterans’ and family personal recollections. These accounts tell the story of Irish men and women who served and made sacrifices for our today and our future. Recording and printing the accounts of the Irish soldier in history and the exploits of living veterans was our way of contributing to a lasting mark of respect to those that had served and to Ireland’s diverse heritage.

With a dedicated production team and passionate contributors, Ireland’s Military Story brought to life the brave exploits and recognition of the service of Irish military personnel throughout Ireland’s past and highlighted their contribution in recent decades to international peace and security both at home and within the diaspora. The magazine highlighted the complexity and diversity of Ireland’s military story. The magazine became a conduit highlighting Ireland’s military tradition as part of Ireland’s culture, heritage and identity; and acted as a platform for reconciliation.

Contributions

Contributors are welcome to submit articles that will be published on the website. We strongly encourage the capturing and recording of family, local, and veterans accounts.

Collections of photographs or documents submitted or accompanying the submitted work will be attributed to the stipulated author, the family, or veteran.

For contributors wishing to submit referenced work please use Irish Historical Studies Rules For Contributors.

Please email info@irelandsmilitarystory.ie

Programmes and Projects ran through Ireland’s Military Story

In addition to regular history articles, commemorations, oral histories and military updates, our team takes on specific multimedia programmes and projects. There are currently several live programmes and projects or in production:

Celbridge’s Military Story

A local heritage project in Celbridge County Kildare exploring the military history and heritage of the area. The project highlights how quickly history can be forgotten and lost unless it is recorded for future generations.

Supported by Kildare County Council Heritage Office.

Dublin Port’s Emergency Story

This project was inspired by the passing of the 75th anniversary of the Emergency period in Ireland 1939 – 1946. There are only a handful of Irish Defence Forces veterans left from this period. Their story is considered by us a national treasure. This project has been complemented by heritage interviews with historians in the Irish Air Corps Museum and John Ambulance Archives regarding their organisation’s role during the period.

This project was undertaken for Dublin Port Company Heritage Office.

Kildare’s Veterans’ Story

County Kildare has a long military tradition and is home to thousands of veterans. While most have served in the Irish Defence Forces, there are several who have seen service with other armed forces. Over the past two years we have met and recorded many ex-servicemen and women who have served as far away as the Congo in the 1960s in the fledging days of Ireland’s service with the United Nations, while others have helped preserve the disappearing story of the Local Defence Fore/ Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCÁ).

Supported by Creative Ireland and Kildare County Council Heritage Office.

Ireland’s Great War

No conflict in Irish history had as lasting an impact on the island as the Great War. Over 200,000 served from 1914 – 1918, some 40,000 Irish men were killed. Every community on the island was affected by this conflict at the time and lasting to the present day. Currently under development is a dedicated programme in partnership with the Somme Association/Museum exploring a shared history for a better future. This programme is supported by the production team at Ireland’s Military story. This programme will develop multimedia education platform that will tell the story of Ireland and the Great War.

One of our recent videos – Ulster Memorial Tower Centenary Concert, Basilique Notre-Dame de Brebières, Albert, France, 19 November 2021.

Supported by The Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade and The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

A Strong Voice For Veterans – The Veterans Commissioner For Northern Ireland  

Recognising the challenges facing veterans today Danny Kinahan was appointed as Northern Ireland’s first Veterans Commissioner in September 2020. Since that time Danny, a British Army veteran himself, and his team – Alan Murphy and Rachael Harger – have been working with veterans’ support organisations throughout the island of Ireland, advocating for better supports, listening to the challenges, and urging veterans to get in touch.

Many who leave the armed services may not require help – but others do across a number of areas.  This might include mental or physical health – or to other matters such as housing and retraining. Getting the right supports to veterans is an ongoing challenge.  We worked with Danny and his team to help produce a series of videos to help introduce him and his team, and promote their work and veterans supports throughout the island of Ireland. We would encourage veterans’ charities/organisations and veterans themselves to share this video in order to help communicate the message: if you need help, there is support.

Supported by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Ireland’s Martello Trails

Ireland’s Martello Trails programme aims to develop a heritage trail following the network of these Napoleonic sentinels around Ireland. The programme will take a 360° view of each tower, developing a trail(s) that takes in the local diverse story of art, commerce, culture, environment, history, people, sport, and wildlife.

Aimed at educators, tourists, and local visitors alike, the programme will be anchored around a website and an app that together will digitally outline the trail.

Supported by Dublin Port Company, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Wicklow County Council.

Kildare’s War of Independence

During the period 1919 – 1921, County Kildare was considered a British Army garrison area. This does not mean the conflict at the time passed it by. Kildare historian James Durney tells the story of the county and the activities of the Irish Republican Army and the Royal Irish Constabulary in the area at the time.

This video was produced for Kildare County Library.

Volunteers

Our programme and projects could not be achieved without the assistance of dedicated volunteer production professionals, historians, and researchers. We follow best practices and guidelines as set out by Volunteer Ireland. Ireland’s Military Story is registered with the Volunteer Centre County Kildare.

If you would like to volunteer with us on one of our programmes or projects please contact us at: info@irelandsmilitarystory.ie