My Great-Uncle's medals and memorial plaque

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by Buck Rogers

I was never shy about talking about Michael (the tiny bit I knew), but you're right that before it was a kind of a taboo subject sadly. There are very few memorials that people know about to these brave men, but it is changing thankfully.

I'm from Donegal and, as you can imagine, SF are sadly quite popular around me, but they can do little to stop the committed. In fact, a memorial recently went up at home for the men. Not that I like the memorial itself, but I love the sentiment.

There are actually quite a few memorials. Michael Pegum has been trying to document them all on his Irish War Memorials website, with a lot of help from people like me. The problem was that the local councils didn't want to maintain them so until the movement for preserving old war memorials came about in the early 90's a lot of them were just being allowed to rot, except for the ones the British Legion in Dublin spotted.

The sculptor I used to replace the Smith Memorial beside Trinity College cricket pitch was referred by me to the Leinster Regiment Association and they immediately commissioned him to repair one of theirs in Birr (I think).

There is now, thankfully, a general acceptance (except from Sinn Fein) towards Remembrance and the part these men played in the history of Ireland and the Empire. Reconciliation is the name of the game now - what a pity it took almost 100 years eh?

Donegal man eh? Dried your tears yet after the All Ireland?

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by connaught

Not that simple, ex service men were also actively recruited for their experience and skills,there was not a catch all policy regarding ex sevicemen, local politics and conditions came into play,some IRA units welcomed them while others did not trust them.
The first FS government actively recruited exservice men for the NA in the civil war.
It's never black and white when it comes to Ireland, it's just grey.

As a fellow Irishman I tend to agree. And in the strange world that is Irish politics you had some men who had previously been comrades fighting against each other in the Anglo/Irish War and again in the Civil War. Sure in the Civil War didn't Britain supply the artillery for the FS Army?

Odd bedfellows but Ireland is like that. We're a rare breed indeed.

[connaught]

Originally Posted by Hussar100

As a fellow Irishman I tend to agree. And in the strange world that is Irish politics you had some men who had previously been comrades fighting against each other in the Anglo/Irish War and again in the Civil War. Sure in the Civil War didn't Britain supply the artillery for the FS Army?

Odd bedfellows but Ireland is like that. We're a rare breed indeed.

They did indeed supply the artillery and if I recall correctly they also supplied expertise and training in the use of them.The fog of war?

[Buck Rogers]

Originally Posted by connaught

Not that simple, ex service men were also actively recruited for their experience and skills,there was not a catch all policy regarding ex sevicemen, local politics and conditions came into play,some IRA units welcomed them while others did not trust them.
The first FS government actively recruited exservice men for the NA in the civil war.
It's never black and white when it comes to Ireland, it's just grey.

Grey, and shades of it! We're a complicated bunch of people.

[Buck Rogers]

Originally Posted by Hussar100

There are actually quite a few memorials. Michael Pegum has been trying to document them all on his Irish War Memorials website, with a lot of help from people like me. The problem was that the local councils didn't want to maintain them so until the movement for preserving old war memorials came about in the early 90's a lot of them were just being allowed to rot, except for the ones the British Legion in Dublin spotted.

The sculptor I used to replace the Smith Memorial beside Trinity College cricket pitch was referred by me to the Leinster Regiment Association and they immediately commissioned him to repair one of theirs in Birr (I think).

There is now, thankfully, a general acceptance (except from Sinn Fein) towards Remembrance and the part these men played in the history of Ireland and the Empire. Reconciliation is the name of the game now - what a pity it took almost 100 years eh?

Donegal man eh? Dried your tears yet after the All Ireland?

You're right, of course, it's the disrepair they've fallen into that's a shame. The one we have is a modern sculpture, which is fine, but I don't get the symbology at all in it, I prefer the classic type celtic cross, or soldier figure if I'm honest. But it's good to have one at all.

Ah, thankfully for me I don't follow the GAA much, it's nice to see them win, but I don't lose any sleep over it if not. Are you a Kerryman?

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by Buck Rogers

You're right, of course, it's the disrepair they've fallen into that's a shame. The one we have is a modern sculpture, which is fine, but I don't get the symbology at all in it, I prefer the classic type celtic cross, or soldier figure if I'm honest. But it's good to have one at all.

Ah, thankfully for me I don't follow the GAA much, it's nice to see them win, but I don't lose any sleep over it if not. Are you a Kerryman?

No, I'm from Down. I was just teasing.

[connaught]

Originally Posted by Hussar100

No, I'm from Down. I was just teasing.

Ah Hussar,I heard that you're closet a hurling fan go to all the GAA matches

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by connaught

Ah Hussar,I heard that you're closet a hurling fan go to all the GAA matches

No reason not to mate, loads of us dirty Prods go to the GAA now - but in fact I don't attend any sporting events.

[ebro]

[connaught]

Originally Posted by Hussar100

No reason not to mate, loads of us dirty Prods go to the GAA now - but in fact I don't attend any sporting events.

Times are a changing, I watched cricket recently

[Buck Rogers]

Originally Posted by Hussar100

No, I'm from Down. I was just teasing.

Ah I suppose you have to tease someone to deflect attention from Down

Originally Posted by connaught

Ah Hussar,I heard that you're closet a hurling fan go to all the GAA matches

Originally Posted by Hussar100

No reason not to mate, loads of us dirty Prods go to the GAA now - but in fact I don't attend any sporting events.

Originally Posted by connaught

Times are a changing, I watched cricket recently

Actually, the first thing I ever watched in HD was cricket because I was amazed at how crisp it was. To be fair, Ireland are doing pretty well(ish) recently and it's an easy bandwagon to jump on.

Lads, if any of you are ever in Donegal, let me know. I'd like to get yous a drink in the local as a way of thanks.

Plus, there are some pretty good military sites around to see!

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by connaught

Times are a changing, I watched cricket recently

Are you over it yet?

Originally Posted by Buck Rogers

Ah I suppose you have to tease someone to deflect attention from Down







Actually, the first thing I ever watched in HD was cricket because I was amazed at how crisp it was. To be fair, Ireland are doing pretty well(ish) recently and it's an easy bandwagon to jump on.

Lads, if any of you are ever in Donegal, let me know. I'd like to get yous a drink in the local as a way of thanks.

Plus, there are some pretty good military sites around to see!

I'm not from Down, I just live here

Might well take you up on that pint offer someday. I've seen a couple of military sites up there - Fort Dunree for a start.

[Buck Rogers]

Originally Posted by Hussar100

Are you over it yet?



I'm not from Down, I just live here

Might well take you up on that pint offer someday. I've seen a couple of military sites up there - Fort Dunree for a start.

Dunree is really good, Lenan Fort is good too because not too many know about it.

I actually can't find much about it online either.