More than 100 brave men are honoured

WITH this year marking 100 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the Great War, the contribution of young men from the Enniscorthy area who went away to fight was well and truly marked at a poignant service at St Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday. As well as this, a plaque, which will take pride of place in the new community park behind the Presentation Centre once it’s completed, was officially unveiled.

More than 100 brave men from Enniscorthy were said to be among the some 49,000 Irish men and women who perished in bloody battles between 1914 and 1918, which came to a conclusion on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918.

Following armistice day last year, it was decided that special measures would be taken to mark the landmark of 100 years and that certainly was the case with a poignant ceremony at St Mary’s, conducted by Rev Nicola Halford, followed by the plaque unveiling at the Presentation Centre which was overseen by District Chairman Cllr Willie Kavanagh and Minister of State with Responsibility for Defence Paul Kehoe.

Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society were once again on hand to help bring the history to life as they dressed in uniforms that would have been commonplace in World War I. Maria Nolan and Graham Cadogan read a total of 82 certificates that they had received from the British War Graves Commission with details of those who died with addresses and next of kin in Enniscorthy.

While perhaps this period was best known for the 1916 Rising in Enniscorthy, the contribution of these great men who died on foreign soil also forms an integral part of the history of the town and district.

Whether they fought to further the cause of Home Rule or simply to put food on the table, there is no doubting their bravery.

Prayers were offered on the day by Rev Nicola Halford and Fr Odhran Furlong while Noel Franklin read aloud the poem ‘The Fallen’ and Kay Doyle read a beautiful piece penned for her father who fought in the Great War and returned, having seen all the horror and devastation of the war first hand.

Bugler Anthony Nolan played The Last Post, concluding the ceremony honouring Enniscorthy’s war dead.

Noel Franklin, Anthony Nolan, Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan, Cllr John O’Rourke, Minister Paul Kehoe, Cllr Paddy Kavanagh, Liz Hore, Fr Odhran Furlong, Rev Nicola Halford and Cllr Willie Kavanagh.