Welcome to this first Update of the Irish Veterans Memorial Project – the organisation working to establish Ireland’s first ‘holistic’ Memorial to those Irish who served, and in particular those who died, in both the major and less well-known wars and conflicts of the 20^th century.  This first update should keep everyone abreast of developments.

What is the Irish Veterans Memorial Project?

The Irish Veterans Memorial Project is a group, mostly of Veterans, who served in various conflicts over the last 50 years, and who have come together to establish a lasting and evolving legacy honouring those who served outside, though not excluding, the Irish Defence Forces.

Who is involved?

Board of Directors includes Tom Kelly (County Longford), Brendan Dodd (County Dublin), Michael and Libby Coyne (County Meath), Ron Howko (County Mayo), Ted Somers (County Wexford), John Hawkins (County Wexford), and Gabriel Nevin (County Mayo).  Between them they have seen active service in American, Australian and British Forces, covering World War II, Korea, Cyprus, Vietnam and other hot spots.  Harry Cookman (County Wexford), who served with British Forces in World War II, and also ex-Indian Army, is our invaluable British Legion liaison.  Architect for the Project is Brian O’Carroll, O’Carroll Associates, County Roscommon.  Solicitor Alan Mitchell, of County Longford oversees our legal obligations.  Co-ordinator is Declan Hughes, instigator of the original project to identify those Irish on the Vietnam Memorial, and Irish Co-ordinator of the tour of the Traveling Vietnam Memorial to Ireland in 1999.

What exactly is the Project working on?

Having identified the exact geographic centre of the island of Ireland, a circle extending 2-3 miles from that point was drawn, and a search was instigated to find possible suitable sites for a Memorial.  The centre of Ireland was chosen deliberately as being representative of the men and women who served and died, and who came from every county and all four provinces on the island of Ireland.

Many visits later, a small disused church just outside Athlone, on the N61 Athlone-Roscommon road, was discovered.  The Rector responsible for the building was traced, and discussions have been ongoing since then.  A draft proposal was put to the Church of Ireland, which would see this church being renovated as an Historic Exhibition and Research Centre, including a Physical Memorial.  We expect all legalities to be finalised very soon, when there will be a Project Launch held in the area.  Details will issue when we know them.

Is there a need for this development?

On Remembrance Sunday 1998, the 50,000 Irish who lost their lives in the Great War while serving in British Army regiments, were officially recognised by the Irish State.  At a ceremony in Belgium, the President of Ireland, the King of the Belgians and the Queen of England stood side by side in official remembrance – 80 years after that war had ended – to honour their memory.

At the same time, Veterans Day in Washington DC, a wreath was laid for the first time at the Vietnam Memorial, to give recognition and respect to the Irish-born identified as having died in Vietnam while serving with United States forces -–some 23 years after the Fall of Saigon.

Work to identify more Irish killed in Vietnam continued, culminating in the visit of the half-scale travelling replica of that Memorial to the four historic provinces of the island of Ireland, through April/May 1999.  On public view in Collins Barracks Cork, Dublin Castle, Queens University Belfast, and NUI-Galway, the tour ended with a stay at Adare Manor, Limerick, where Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern met many family members and laid a wreath at The Wall.  Earlier, the President of Ireland Mary McAleese paid her respects to all who died when she visited The Wall during its stay in Belfast.

How many Irish served in different forces throughout the last century, no one knows.  Those Irish confirmed to date as having lost their lives in Vietnam include 19 men and one woman who died serving with US forces, and 4 who died with the Australians.  Prior to the research on this extremely sensitive subject, the official number of Irish-born killed in Vietnam was 1 (one).  Also serving with US forces, the number of Irish known to have lost their lives in Korea totalled six.  As at August 2001, this figure stood at 21 – a figure that continues to rise thanks to the work of Brian McGinn.  His websites www.irishonthewall.com and www.irishinkorea.org are a must for anyone interested in this aspect of Irish History.

Sadly, these figures will continue to rise as research continues.  To be sure, they will not reach anywhere near the 50,000 Irish dead of World War 1, but the search to find and identify them is every bit as important.  One of the consequences of Irish neutrality has been a virtual non-recognition for any man or woman who has served outside of the Irish Defence Forces; and, crucially, a complete oversight of the role many Irish played at the sharp end of world events.

Identification - a key to remembrance

We know who those Irish were who died serving in British Regiments in WWI, but who were the Irish who served and died in WWI in American, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand or other uniforms?  Likewise World War II, Korea, Borneo, Malaya, Beirut, The Gulf, or a host of other conflicts?

As part of the thread of the emigrant country we still are, it is important to understand how and why these people adopted the flags of other nations.  From the grinding poverty and hardship that was life in Ireland for so many, to the idealism and belief in fighting for freedom or helping to overthrow tyranny, they were our brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, grandparents and other relatives.  Irish through birth or heritage, they served –and often died –invisible but to their families and comrades-in-arms.  Many are buried in quiet churchyards throughout Ireland, while others lie in foreign soil.

Some are identified as the Irish they are, while others await that recognition.  Others still are included in the thousand upon thousand of personnel listed as POW/MIA – Prisoner of War or Missing in Action. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. The Irish Veterans Memorial Project considers that a key element in such remembrance is identification.  To that end we reach out to individuals and organisations around the world for help in getting the names on paper, and putting faces to the names.  Working together we can begin the painstaking task of compiling the historical record – not just for ourselves, but for future generations.

What can I do?

Aside from assisting the Project with funding and/or contacts, you can help the Irish Veterans Memorial compile a database of Irish who served throughout the 20^th century.  Information prior to 1900 is also welcomed if available, as it gives a fuller and richer history to many a family tapestry.  Email us (putting IRISH VETERANS in the subject line), with your address for a Preliminary Information Form, and return it to our Administration Office as soon as possible.

Possible US Funding Tour

The Irish Veterans Memorial Project is interested in hearing from individuals involved in organisations and corporate bodies that might be interested in assisting organise a lecture and fundraising tour of the United States for the Project.  We will need to raise some 2.5 million dollars during 2005 and 06.

One suggestion received to date is to organise a tour along the main AMTRAK routes, e.g. Boston to Chicago, Seattle, to San Francisco, LA, San Antonio, New Orleans, Florida, and back up through the Carolinas to DC, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York and down to Massachusetts.  Talks, fundraisers, meetings could be arranged along the route with local Veteran organisations, Irish Groups, Emerald Societies and Corporates.  At present, this is just a suggestion on the drawing board, but we would be interested in discussing putting some flesh on the bones with any legitimate organisation.  Contact Declan Hughes on  Sec@IrishVeteransResearch.com to discuss further.  Please put IRISH VETERANS in the subject line.

From January 1^st 2002, the Irish Punt, or Pound, ceased to be the currency of the Republic of Ireland.  The Euro became the only currency used in daily transactions.  Irish notes and coins will continue to languish in the drawers, purses and pockets of many for years to come when, of course, they will be useless to anyone.  The Irish Veterans Memorial Project wants your old notes and coins.  We can take them well into the New Year and, by agreement, change them in our Bank.  Check through your home and office now, and corral them up for the Irish Veterans Memorial Project.  Simply place them in a bag or other suitable container, and contact us.  We will organise a collection point or points in the New Year.  Anyone wishing to organise a collection point in their area, please let us know immediately.  Email:  Secretary@IrishVeteransResearch.com putting IRISH VETERANS in the subject line.