Cross-Border Ceremony To Recall WWI Sacrifice

Irish ex service organisations will be meeting in Drogheda at the weekend for a poignant commemoration to the sacrifice of a previous generation of soldiers.

This is the only all-Ireland remembrance event to take place, and involves a contingent from County Antrim - headed by Whiteabbey Royal British Legion – whose members first pioneering local participation in the event more than five years ago, and representatives from the Irish Ex-Service Association.

The Republic’s ex servicemen will lay their tricolour wreaths alongside those from various sections of the Royal British Legion – all of which give prominence to the legion’s royal crest.

This year, civic dignitaries will also be involved, including the mayor of Newtownabbey, Nigel Hamilton.

The DUP mayor wreath will be placed alongside that of the mayor of Drogheda Borough Council, A. Donohoe, each paying tribute to the sacrifice of all the Irish soldiers who fought in the service of the British army in the Great War.

Around 200 people are likely to make their way to the war memorial in Mary Street, Drogheda for the ceremony on Saturday 3 November at 11am, which takes the form of an inter-denominational religious ceremony and a short march to allow the ranks of old soldiers from the Royal British Legion to form up, and a bugler in authentic WWI uniform to play the ‘last post’ in traditional fashion.

(BMcC)