Irish war dead honoured

IRISH war heroes were honoured at an Armistice Day commemoration at Glasnevin Cemetery last week.

The commemoration was marked with wreath laying ceremonies at the France-Ireland memorial and the Cross of Sacrifice, and the unveiling of four Victoria Cross Stones.

Those attending the event included Secretary General at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Katherine Licken, Ambassador of France to Ireland, Stéphane Crouzat, British Ambassador Robin Barnett and Chairman of Glasnevin Trust, John Green.

Thousands of Irish men and women who died fighting in both World War One and World War Two were remembered and honoured on the day.

The Victoria Cross commemorative stones pay tribute to the four Irish recipients John Moyney (Irish Guards), Clement Robertson (Tank Corps), James Emerson (Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers) and James Duffy (Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers).

John Green opened the ceremony with a welcoming address.

“The France-Ireland memorial and the Cross of Sacrifice under which we laid these commemorative wreaths are lasting tributes to the Irish Men and Women who fought in both World Wars and the enormous sacrifices they made, in the case of tens of thousands it was the ultimate sacrifice,” he said reflecting on the day.

“I would hope that the commemoration will further add to the spirit of inclusiveness and reconciliation so important to this this Decade of Centenaries.”