Tag: WWI

Our Heroes
During the period 1914-1918, the magazine Irish Life published a supplement called Our Heroes which contained photographs and short biographies of Irish officers and men in the British Army who were either killed in action or were mentioned in despatches for acts of bravery.
As part of the Decade of Centenaries, South Dublin Libraries embarked on a collaboration to digitise and put online this hitherto unavailable resource. Using photographs of pages from the original publication supplied by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, with the permission of the National Library of Ireland, South Dublin Libraries Local Studies created searchable text from the page images using Optical Character Recognition software, isolated the portraits of the men and enriched the data by including the place of burial of those who fell, which was not included in the original work.
1,600 men’s names and short biographies are available to search. There are many Kilkenny men represented in the database. The brief biographies cover many subjects including schools, colleges, universities, regiments, ships, cities, towns, professions and banks on the island of Ireland and (the then mainland) Britain.
The Our Heroes database is available by clicking on the following link:
http://ourheroes.southdublinlibraries.ie/
October 29, 2014
Kilkenny on the Eve of War
The Local Studies section of the Kilkenny County Library Service has published a brochure Kilkenny on the Eve of War. This publication is comprised of a collection of articles that set the political and historical scene in Ireland and Kilkenny leading up to the outbreak of World War I. To view the brochure please visit the Local Studies section of the Kilkenny County Library Service.

October 14, 2014
Soldiers and Civilians – Experiences and Memories of the First World War
The National Museum of Ireland is hosting a day of talks exploring the experiences of soldiers, nurses and civilians during World War I and how the War has been commemorated across Europe and in Australia. You can also drop in and get information from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association on how to trace people that fought in the War. For a full programme go to www.museum.ie Booking essential. Tickets 10 euro full price or 7 euro concessions.
For further information click here.
October 14, 2014
Remembering the Great War – Short Course
Maynooth University – Kilkenny Campus are offering a short course this autumn to mark the anniversary of the outbreak of World War I; 2014 is the centenary of the outbreak of World War 1, the Great War, the “war to end all wars”.
This short course will look at the causes and the course of the war; the conditions for the soldiers in the trenches and for the civilian population at home; and the aftermath of war in Europe. It will also examine the effects of the outbreak of war on the political landscape here in Ireland, and finally the Kilkenny links with the war will be explored, and in particular the soldiers who fought in the war and their backgrounds.
For more details on the course, click here.

October 13, 2014
The Irish Country House and the Great War
The Irish Life and Lore oral history collection, entitled The Irish Country House and the Great War was launched on 30th July 2014, just days before the one hundred year anniversary of the British declaration of war against Germany on August 4th 1914.
This oral history collection includes recordings from members of 52 families from all areas of Ireland. The content of the oral history collection ensures that those who fell, those who suffered lifelong physical and psychological injury and those fortunate enough to survive unscathed, will not be forgotten. Members of their families who have been recorded for the project speak of their family histories, their childhood homes, their family tradition of military service, their service records and the lives lived after the war by those who survived. Anecdotes relating to their personal lives and relationships are recounted, often with gentle humour and pathos, and the bitter heartbreak endured by parents and siblings on the death of a beloved family member is described.
To find out more about this collection visit the Irish Life and Lore website.
September 11, 2014
Heritage Week
Generations Exploring Heritage Together
Heritage Week 23rd – 31st August
The theme of this year’s Heritage Week which runs from Saturday 23rd – Sun 31st August is “Generations Exploring Heritage Together”. Local heritage groups have compiled a fabulous programme of events. Our military heritage is very well represented in the programme, and includes guided walks and talks about the contribution that Kilkenny men and women made to both World War I and the War of Independence.
According to Dearbhala Ledwidge, Heritage Officer, “This is the most diverse and comprehensive Heritage Week programme to date. It’s a great opportunity for people to experience and enjoy the wonderful heritage we have on our doorstep in County Kilkenny”. Click here for a recent press release relating to Heritage Week.
The Kilkenny Heritage Office has compiled a free County Kilkenny ‘Heritage Week’ Event Guide which outlines over 70 ‘Heritage Week’ events taking place in the County. s happening in your area and to request a free copy of the Kilkenny Heritage Week brochure, contact Dearbhala Ledwidge, Heritage Officer, Kilkenny County Council. Tel: 056 7794925. dearbhala.ledwidge@kilkennycoco.ie or click here to download a copy.
Heritage Week is co-ordinated in County Kilkenny by the Heritage Office of Kilkenny County Council, and nationally by the Heritage Council, in conjunction with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and is part of European Heritage Days, which is celebrated in 40 countries across Europe.
For further information, contact:
Dearbhala Ledwidge, Heritage Officer, Kilkenny County Council
Email: dearbhala.ledwidge@kilkennycoco.ie Phone: 056 7794925
August 18, 2014