Local newspaper stories feature in first World War book

Thurles based historian Tom Burnell has included several local accounts in his latest publication on the First World War.

In 'Irishmen in the Great War: Reports from the Front, 1915', Tom trawls the archives of 26 newspapers in search of interesting perspectives on the war years. Among the titles are 'The Nenagh Guardian/Tipperary (North Riding) and Ormond Advertiser', 'The Tipperary Star and Midland Advertiser', 'The Midland Tribune/Tipperary Sentinel and King's County Vindicator', and 'The Tipperary People'.
Regarding the study as a “labour of love”, the author has handpicked more than 150 news stories in an illustration of life on the front line and on the home front during the war.

Among them is a letter from Lieutenant O Gill of Fattheen, Nenagh, describing the battles in Gallipoli to his father, RJ Gill. There is a lengthy account of Toomevara men involved in the war, including John McDonald, John Leamy, Denis Moloney, Patrick Bourke, S Carroll, John Cawley (who won the Military Medal), Michael Moloney, J Carroll, and “John Hayes, the famous cross-country runner”. The author of the account commented that it was “a strange coincidence that each and every one of those [Toomevara] heroes is a Catholic and a Nationalist”.

Elsewhere Dr Timothy Meagher relates graphic descriptions of his experiences to his brother, Rev Thomas Meagher of Killaloe. Also included is a letter from Pte Edward (Ned) Maher, a Templemore man who wrote about being treated in hospital, meeting “the famous Mick Ryan 'Bat' in Gallipoli”, and passing around copies of 'The Tipperary Star'.
Tom Burnell, an Irish Army veteran, is a historian, lexicographer, author and former Research Curator at St Mary's Famine and War Museum, Thurles. He has spent the last seven years compiling forgotten articles from regional newspapers and has eight previously published titles, seven of which cover the war dead of many Irish counties.
Tom disputes the number of war dead recorded in Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-18. In the case of Tipperary, he says his research has indicated that 1,499 lives were lost in the war as opposed to the officially recorded figure of 1,050.

In his latest work, the author notes that most newspapers' reporting on the war and recording of local casualties dwindled dramatically after the 1916 Rising.
Published by Pen & Sword Books Ltd in the UK, 'Irishmen in the Great War: Reports from the Front, 1915' is available now.