Remembering the local war dead
November 2004
A MOVING ecumenical act of remembrance was held at the cenotaph last Saturday for local war dead from World War 1.
Led in prayer by Fr Denis Nulty, a large crowd prayed and sang accompanied by Drogheda Brass Band. Poppy wreaths were laid, the Last Post played, flags lowered and poems read by Bridie Maxwell and Paddy Cluskey.
Three cenotaph regulars, May Weldon, John Quinn and Dermot Fairclough, all recently deceased, were remembered.
Joining Fr Nulty were local church leaders Monsignor Francis Donnelly, Archdeacon Patrick Lawrence, Fr Paddy Rushe, Reverend Michael Graham, Fr Patsy McDonnell and Rev John Woodside. Over 400 young men from the Drogheda area fought and died during the Great War 1914-18. Reasons for joining the British Army varied from economic motivation, desire to safeguard small nations or a sense of adventure.
‘All these reasons are valid and we should commemorate their sacrifice,’ said Mayor Ged Nash, congratulating former councillor Sean Collins, Mrs Emerson and Mrs Lush for re-establishing this commemoration in 1999. In 1992 former councillor Frank Godfrey staged one with Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew in attendance.
Deputy Fergus O’Dowd, elected members of Drogheda, Louth and Ardee Councils, local cross-border groups and representatives of the Royal British Legion from Whiteabbey Katesbridge, Kilkeel, Shankhill, Newtownabbey and Newtownards attended. Alongside his mayoral chains Mayor Nash wore a poppy and family war medals from his grandfather, George Kierans in WW2 and great-grandfather in WW1.
Chair of Ardee Town Commissioners, Leonard Hatrick, remembered his granduncle Richard Rennicks, killed in Belgium in WW1.
Pilot Lieut Col Paddy Byrne Laurence Street, was remembered by his grand-niece Dr Julie Ann Byrne. ‘He was a flier lost in action behind enemy lines in 1916 at the age of 21.
We don’t know where he died or where he’s buried. His brother then died in Burma.’
Remembering her grandfather, Lieut Col John McDonnell 5th Batt Leinster Royal Meath regiment, from Kilsharvan, was Lucita Shorter. He fell in action in Ypres, Belgium in 1918.