Comment by Wren Hawthorne on November 9, 2013 at 12:58am

Appreciation for writing of Poet, Francis Ledwidge, by Jean Tubridy. A heartfelt thread ~ a kind of collective memory of war, of those lost.. as though knowing something of them through poetry written in turmoil, dire.

Comment by David Caldwell on November 10, 2013 at 8:25am

Strange today watching the Remembrance Ceremony at the Cenotaph, London that Commonwealth Countries which did not take part in World War I or II lay wreaths but the sacrifice of Irish soldiers is not represented. In World War I it is estimated of the 700,000 British military deaths 50,000 were Irish. Unlike in Britain, there was never conscription in Ireland so every Irish soldier was a volunteer. Secondly, there is no category of “Irish” in the British war records so the number is estimated from the deaths in Irish regiments but also Irish Volunteers, who enrolled in English, Welsh and Scottish regiments. It is notable that proportionately this death toll is as high if not higher than in Britain.

http://daithaic.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/thiepval-memorial-somme-fran...

Comment by Rónán Gearóid Ó Domhnaill on November 10, 2013 at 9:12am

Maybe we should also honour the countless Irishmen who fought for France in the service of the French Foreign Legion? The British used the colonials as cannon fodder both at the Somme and Galipoli. The Irish volunteered because they thought they would get Home Rule, which never happened. In World War Two they fought for adventure. Today they fight in Afghanistan cos its  a job.

Comment by Neil F. Cosgrove on November 10, 2013 at 10:01am

Absolutely the thousands of Irish who died in WW I should be remembered, but its a little hypocritical to have in parallel such Politically Correct angst in the Irish Government  about commemorating those who fell for Ireland during Easter Week and the War of Independence. 

I will be very interested to see how the current government honors the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Irish Volunteers his month, considering the spectacle that went on earlier this year in Belfast commemorating the formation of the UVF.

Heritage Partner Comment by That's Just How It Was on November 28, 2015 at 10:38am

Ah ha ... it will indeed be interesting to see how our own soldiers of War fighting for a Free State , will be honored in 1916 and then in  1919- 1921.  Lets watch this space on this one.

As for the two world wars// many, many thousands of young Irish men lost their live sin Wars that they knew nothing about, and only took up arms for the Kings shilling .. so that their families woudl have money coming in/ to feed the children and pay the rent  Two on my Uncles doing just that.

I agree with Rónán Gear.óid ó Domhnaill above on the Irish Army  being in  Afghanistan ... these men are only in the Army because it is a job. just like the ancestors before them   

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