Ireland's Military Story

Tag: Remembrance Sunday

  • Athy Remembers its Great War Fallen

    Athy Remembers its Great War Fallen

    Athy Remembers its Great War Fallen

    Photos by John O’Byrne

    Around Ireland today communities gathered for Remembrance Sunday, to reflect and commemorate those from their area that served and lost their lives during the Great War 1914 – 1918. Today we attended the annual service at Old St. Michael’s Cemetery, Athy, County Kildare. During the Great War some 2,000 men and women from the town and surrounding area served; of these at least 290 lost their lives. Incredible considering the small size of the population at the time. One of those who served was Major John Vincent Holland VC. Their service, and Athy’s role during that period, are remembered in the Shackleton Museum. The work on Athy’s Great War service continues, with historians Clem Roche and Frank Taaffe endeavouring to ensure all those who served or lost their lives are remembered.

    Thank you to Kildare County Council Heritage Office for their support.

  • Remembrance Sunday

    Remembrance Sunday

    Remembrance Sunday

    Updated: 22:44 8 November 2020

    Sadly due to prevailing Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions, the traditional Choral Service of Remembrance at The National Cathedral of St. Patrick in Dublin, now in its 101st year, must be conducted without the attendance of any congregation.

    The 2020 Remembrance Sunday Evensong worship, by clergy and choir only, will be broadcast by St Patrick’s Cathedral via live video stream at 3.15pm on Sunday. Wreaths will be laid during the service by The Very Reverend Dr. William Morton, Dean and Ordinary of St Patrick’s Cathedral, on behalf of the President of Ireland and the President of the Royal British Legion.

    2020 is the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and this year we pay a special tribute to the men and women of the Second World War generation who served and sacrificed to defend our freedoms and ways of life.

    To mark this year’s Remembrance Sunday the Royal British Legion Rep. of Ireland produced a remembrance video.

    We will remember them.

    Michael D. Higgins arriving at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. (Image: Royal British Legion Rep. of Ireland)

    In honour of Ireland’s fallen, President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, insisted on attending the service at St. Patrick’s.

    President Higgins lays a wreath and pays his respects at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. (Photo: Royal British Legion Rep. of Ireland)

    Meanwhile Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster at a socially-distanced Remembrance Day service in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. The Taiseach laid a wreath at the war memorial and took part in a minute’s silence to remember those who fought and died in service becoming the first Fianna Fáil  leader to do so on Remembrance Sunday.