AS NEWS OF THE ARMISTICE FILTERED THROUGH
Delgany that Monday night could not restrain its joy and excitement. The instruments of the brass band had been lent to the war effort but the drums had been retained and were taken out and beaten with vigour and skill, accompanied by flags, hand bells, triangles and hearty voices. Leaving the school, the group marched up the street as far as Thorndale where they halted and sang the National Anthem, then down to Glenowen, joined on the route by the villagers.
There they sang again, returned to the school then went down to Greystones where they repeated their performance at Cooleen, before returning to the school somewhat exhausted but smiling.
Bunting became a feature of Delgany as soon as the joyful news arrived and the place was described as ‘looking colourful’. It was noted that even had the brass instruments been available, no band members were available to play them as 14 of them had joined the army – four of whom had lost their lives. After this procession, the National Fife and Drum Band turned out and went over the same route, playing national airs spurred on by the general feeling of joy that the war was over
When news of the armistice reached Wicklow town, there was an unmistakable display of joy and relief by townspeople and the military. The soldiers of the Royal Sussex Regiment paraded in the streets in animated groups, singing and waving Union Jacks. Flags were displayed from the military headquarters and from private houses.
In Arklow, workers at Kynoch’s gave themselves over to holidaymaking. Flags were displayed in various parts of the town and a feeling of thankfulness was manifest everywhere. The military entered joyfully into the spirit of the day and the scenes of enthusiasm were recorded as ‘intense’. However, for these workers it was an ill wind as, following a rationalisation of the munitions industry in Britain and Ireland, coupled with reduced demand for their products, the plant closed down within a year.