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Stephen Callaghan
Sep 18, 20212 min read
Drumcullen to Africa, Sergeant Egan, 21st Regiment of Foot
Joseph Egan was born in the Parish of Drumcullen, King’s County around 1843. He was the son of Thomas Egan, a farmer who worked land...
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Stephen Callaghan
Aug 7, 20212 min read
Birr's oldest Military Grave - a veteran of 1798
Previously on this blog we have covered some of the history of Birr Barracks. It’s construction began on 21 February 1809 with its...
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Stephen Callaghan
Jul 23, 20213 min read
Captain John Burke of Birr
Today we have a special guest post. To celebrate the completion and printing of a family history book, Ossie and Irene Burke have kindly...
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Stephen Callaghan
Jul 16, 20212 min read
A Canteen Manger of Birr Barracks - George Beattie
On 16 July 1922, while the ruins of Birr Barracks were still smoldering after having been set alight on the 14th, George Beattie passed...
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Stephen Callaghan
Jul 10, 20212 min read
Captain John Forrest Ruttledge MC
John Forrest Ruttledge was born in Birr on 1 August 1895. He was the oldest son of Colonel Alfred Ruttledge and May Ormsby Ruttledge (née...
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Stephen Callaghan
Jun 27, 20212 min read
The story behind Private Hennessy's memorial plaque
A few years ago I was lucky to enough to be given the memorial plaque of Lance Corporal Patrick Andrew Hennessy from a relation of his....
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Stephen Callaghan
Jun 13, 20212 min read
John Perry of the Canadian Infantry
An interesting feature on certain memorials in cemeteries is the commemoration of relations who died in the First and Second World Wars....
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Stephen Callaghan
Jun 6, 20213 min read
The Ennis brothers of Stoneybatter, Dublin
On my last visit to Grangegorman Military Cemetery, my attention was caught by the headstone of John Ennis of Stoneybatter, Dublin. The...
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Stephen Callaghan
May 28, 20212 min read
Army Pensioner Edward Curren of Mount Sally, Birr
Through the course of my research, I have searched both 1901 and 1911 census for army pensioners living in and around Birr. One army...
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Stephen Callaghan
May 14, 20212 min read
The Service of Private Michael Henry, Leinster Regiment
A familiar stretch of road to me is the Tullamore - Birr road, which I’ve been on countless times. Passing by Eglish I always catch...
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Stephen Callaghan
Mar 27, 20213 min read
The Military Service of the Stephens of Ferbane, County Offaly
Recently a friend linked me to some medals for sale, the group consisted of the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal. The...
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Stephen Callaghan
Mar 20, 20212 min read
Peninsular Wars to Anglo-Burma War - Colonel Alexander Campbell, 38th Foot
Alexander Campbell was born in Auchinbreck, Argyllshire, Scotland on 10 October 1795. Possibly related to the Campbells of Auchinbreck,...
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Stephen Callaghan
Mar 11, 20213 min read
Barbados to Birr, Sergeant Gordon Brooker
Today marks the 102nd anniversary of the death of Sergeant Gordon Brooker of the Leinster Regiment. Sergeant Brooker was buried in an...
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Stephen Callaghan
Feb 26, 20212 min read
Clonoghill Stories: Private Christopher White
As it was the anniversary of the death of Private Christopher White during this past week it would only be fitting to feature his story...
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Stephen Callaghan
Feb 19, 20212 min read
War Memorials of St Brendan's Church, Birr (Part 1)
There was a significant contribution of men from the town of Birr, King’s County during the Great War. The true extent is not fully...
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Stephen Callaghan
Jan 29, 20212 min read
Clonoghill Stories: Major John Gilbertson
Despite some hesitation in letting soldier be buried in Clonoghill Cemetery when it first opened in 1869, the cemetery contains many...
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Stephen Callaghan
Jan 15, 20213 min read
Solving the Mystery of James Flynn
My early days of researching soldier’s in Birr began with spending countless hours wandering around Clonoghill Cemetery, which is just a...
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Stephen Callaghan
Dec 18, 20203 min read
Private Patrick Doolan, 2nd Battalion, Leinster Regiment
A number of years ago I came across a Queen's South Africa medal. On initial research there did not appear to be much information about...
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Stephen Callaghan
Dec 11, 20203 min read
Honourary Captain Denis Hayes M.B.E. Leinster Regiment
The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII was appointed commander in chief of the Leinster Regiment in 1919. In 1922 he visited the 1st...
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Stephen Callaghan
Dec 4, 20202 min read
An American Revolutionary War Veteran's Grave in Birr
The old medieval church, St Brendan’s in Birr was replaced by a new church, also named St Brendan’s in 1816. when the new church, also...
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