Full circle for Kilbarron Terryglass WWI history project

In this the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, Kilbarron Terryglass Historical Society hosts Ranelagh Musical and Drama Group to pay tribute to the men and women who have a connection with our parish who participated in the war.

It is through local man Dermot Carrol, formerly from Coolbawn, who is a member of the Ranelagh Group, who has made this possible. Throughout the past four years the group have been paying tribute through a similar programme remembering the people of Dublin who were in the war.

This event will bring the society full circle, as in July 2014 we brought the fruits of our research on our project ‘Who from the parish was in the First World War’ together in the form of a journal and a remembrance ceremony in Terryglass. This event brought people from right around the world together with a common cause - to remember their family member who they knew never wanted to remember what they had been through but could never forget.

On July 27th 2014 we laid 68 roses, one for each person in our book, and then we laid a 69th Rose for the men and women whom we did not know of yet! Since that day we have added another 15 people to our records. We have no doubt there will be more.

With the approach of November 11th, Armistice Day, we look back on the work of this project. We never set out to question why they went; this has been thrashed out many times by many people; nor did we set out to understand why; but just to remember them; stick to the fact; their records. What we didn’t expect was how much the project gave the descendants of these men and women. It gave them a platform; they were allowed to speak of their father, uncle, grandfather, neighbour and some for the first time. There were many stories already told of the trauma they experienced in the war and on their return, and we were prepared for that but not for the emotion that we experienced when their families spoke to us or when we opened letters and emails.

We are very grateful to the Nenagh Guardian, which over the past four years has allowed us to remember these men and women through our articles. We really do appreciate the families who shared their stories and the organisations who do so much to keep the memories of these people alive so we don’t forget. It is estimated that approximately 40 million people were killed in WWI between 1914 and 1918 and approximately 50 million died from the Spanish Flu of 1918.

We gather once again this Sunday, October 21st, in Kilbarron Church from 4pm to 6pm to remember these men and women who gave so much in a war that was to end all wars.