War hero to be remembered in lorrha

An Australian dignitary is visiting Lorrha this Saturday, May 2nd, to commemorate to local war hero Martin O'Meara.
Cllr Wayne Sanford, President of the Shire of Collie, Western Australia, is due to arrive in the village at 2pm. There will be a parade through the village to the memorial plaque, where Cllr Sanford will lay a wreath. Members of the O'Meara family will also lay a wreath. 
There will be a talk on the life of Martin O'Meara, the Lorrha native who emigrated to Australia and fought in the First World War, where he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Among other events planned for Saturday, there will be a tree-planting ceremony at Rathcabbin Green.
Cllr Sanford will be bringing a DVD of an event reflecting on the life of O'Meara in Collie. It is hoped that this will be played at some point on Saturday. The Lorrha born soldier remains an honoured figure in the Australian town, where and play and also a song about his life have been written. The song – 'From Collie's Banks to No Man's Land' – was written by Cork man Dave McGilton. It can be heard through his website www.davemcgilton.com.