Poignant remembrance ceremony for 16 South Longford people who died in World War One
The touching event was organised by Danny Walsh, Charlie Harrison and committee members to honour the 15 men and one woman who died in World War One, a decade after a memorial was erected to honour them
A poignant remembrance ceremony was held in Kenagh recently where a large number of descendants, locals, and veteran groups gathered for a memorial to 16 people from the local area who lost their lives in the first World War.
The event was organised by Danny Walsh, Charlie Harrison and committee members to honour the 15 men and one woman who died in World War One, a decade after a memorial was erected to honour them.
The ceremony on Tuesday, October 20 began with a roll call of those listed on the memorial with a special mention for the only woman listed on the memorial Violet Barrett given by her grand-niece and grand-nephew.
The 15 men whose names are on the memorial are Peter McGrath, Corry Burnett, Ned McCormack, Joe Hewitt, Christy Kennedy, Bill King, Gordon Lyons, Henry Wilson, Michael Smith, Charles Sullivan, Tom McCormack, Harry D. Wilson and Francis J. Murray.
Over 200,000 Irish soldiers served in the British military during World War I (1914–1918), with an estimated 27,000 to 49,000 losing their lives.
Charlie Harrison was the MC for the remembrance and he said the the army veterans looked after the ceremonial aspect of the event.
"Dan Walsh came on board to help out because he had the army connection and he got a flagpole and we now have a permanent flagpole as a result.”
The playing of the last post by a trumpeter from the army was described as being very moving and the raising of the national flag and the singing of Amhran na bhFiann brought the ceremony to a close.
A memorial plaque has stood proudly at The Clock Tower Kenagh since it was erected in 2016 after one of the descendants David Williams who is based in England and several local people came together and agreed on a fitting way to honour their 16 relatives.
Charlie said, "There was a nice number of people there on the day and we had the O.N.E (Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann / Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel) army lads from Longford, Hugh Farrell and all the rest.
They had a lovely colour party and we had the ceremony and we had the priest Fr Tom Barden and the Revd Christiaan Snell down from the Protestant side to lead prayers.
"We had relations of those who were involved in the First World War, so they came out in good numbers and then the retired army people as well, other people apart from the O.N.E.”
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Charlie said there is a lot of people in the area with connections to the 16 people and one woman, a Kenagh native, travelled from county Wicklow for the event.
"David Williams, of course, was in England, he gave us a kind of a guideline as to how normally these ceremonies would look like.
"And then we went back to Hugh Farrell, the retired servicemen in Longford and he gave us great guidance and he did it all on the day for us."
Charlie said it was a lovely event and he believes they may host a remembrance annually in future.
"We should try and have it every year because we have the memorial there and it's nice to remember the people that gave their lives," he added.
Refreshments were served in O'Boyle's Pub afterwards and Charlie said that was a nice way for those who gathered to connect.
"We had tea and sandwiches and all the usual things there and it was excellent because all the lads who would not have met each other in years were able to have a chat."