Armistice Day events herald new era for Buttevant heritage
BUTTEVANT Heritage Group marked Armistice Day last Sunday with an exhibition of memorabilia from World War 1 and the launch of their new heritage website and a map of medieval Buttevant in the town’s Muintir na Tíre Hall.
The exhibition, the new heritage website and medieval map were launched by Cllr. John Paul O’Shea who, in his address, said “I am delighted to be in Buttevant participating in the Armistice Day commemoration in the town, whose community had such close links to the war which ended 100 years ago today. The Buttevant area had more than 50 people engaged in the fighting in World War I – some of whom are interred in St. Mary’s Graveyard.”
Mr. O’Shea said that many Irish men supported John Redmond’s call when he committed Ireland to the war effort in the House of Commons and pledged the support of the Irish volunteers to fight in the war, which he said, was undertaken in the interests of all of Ireland and the defence of the highest principles of religion and morality. Over 200,000 Irishmen responded to this call and of these approximately 50,000 died fighting and 4,500 of these came from across Cork County. “They were once regarded as forgotten soldiers and it is now right and necessary to commemorate those who fought with the allied powers in World War I,” he said.
“I had the privilege of serving as Mayor of County Cork in 2015 and 2016, and participating in the 1916 commemorations across Cork, and it is equally important to remember those Irishmen who fought and died in World War I and I commend the community of Buttevant for organising today’s event,” he said.
Referring to the medieval map of the town, he said it was made possible by grant aid from the Irish Walled Towns Network and created by artist Uto Hogerzell. It allows people to see that Buttevant was a thriving medieval town and it will be a great addition to future developments, such as the riverside walk, to help people understand the impressive heritage that exists in Buttevant.
Mr. O’Shea said that the new heritage website was completed with the help of a grant from the European Year for Cultural Heritage Community Scheme. It was built by David Foley of Avondhu Blackwater, and he has done a wonderful job of creating a beautiful website. “The aerial footage of Buttevant’s heritage sites was executed by videographer Pat O’Hara, who also donated the footage to the heritage group.
“Buttevant has many visitors to its town who visit the friaries and St. John’s, and the ease with which they can access these audio guides from the website will encourage them to take a self-guided tour. It also highlights the work done by Buttevant Heritage over the years,” concluded Mr. O’Shea.
The new site can be accessed by logging on to www.buttevantheritage.ie. Other speakers at the launch were Anne Coughlan, Tom Blake and Denis O’Sullivan of the Buttevant Heritage Group.
Earlier, members of Buttevant Heritage Group participated in a ceremony in the local St. Mary’s Church graveyard, in which, seven soldiers of the Great War are buried. It was conducted by Buttevant Parish priest Rev. Fr. Baker.
Buttevant was, of course, a garrison town and held one of the largest the military barracks in the country. It was a huge part of life in the town from 1812 until it was burned during the civil war in 1922.