THE BARRACK SQUARE

Over the past few years I have been researching Birr’s forgotten cemetery, which over time has garnered the unflattering name Bully’s...

Years ago I came into the procession of the medals of John Joseph Cannon, a soldier of the Leinster Regiment who fought during the Great...

Recently, I came across the following badge, known as a Silver War Badge (or often incorrectly as the Silver Wound Badge), the badge was...

Robert Dillon was born in Birr, King’s County (Offaly), in 1837. The son of labourer, Thomas Dillon. He enlisted at Birr for service with...

Thomas Hickey was born on Bury Quay, Tullamore, King’s County on 24 January 1875. He was the son of Michael Hickey and Mary Hickey (Nee...

John Edward Maxwell Pilkington was born on 9 September 1856 at Carrick House, Queen’s County. He was the son of William and Isabella...

George Robert Hopkins was born circa 1819, belonging to an old Kilkenny family. Not much is known about George’s early life. He was...

In today’s blog with look at the life of John Houlihan, whose funeral caused some embarrassment and a bit of a stir in Birr. John...

Alexander Thomson Munro was born in Tain, Ross-shire, Scotland on 27 April 1803. He was the son of Lieutenant John Munro, a soldier who...

Regular readers will be aware of my tendency to focus on Offaly related topics, with specific focus on Birr, a town where I have many...

This post was originally posted on the Offaly History Blog in April 2020, but in light of new research, I have added to the story. Today...

A century ago today, Birr Barracks was officially handed over to the National Army. The last of the Leinster Regiment had departed only...

The 17 January marks the 106th anniversary of the death of James Mooney, 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment. As it nears the anniversary of...

Charles Dodgson (the grandfather of Lewis Carroll) was born in 1769. He was the son of Bishop Charles Dodgson and Mary Frances Dodgson...

Michael Joseph Broderick was the eldest son of Laurence Broderick and Annie Broderick (née Killen). He was born at Cappacur, County...

While recently browsing the Church of Ireland burial records for Birr, I came across a record relating to George Power, a 56-year-old...

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...

On Saturday 18 April 1903, The Leinster Leader reported the 'Strange Suicide' of a Crimea veteran, Patrick Walsh who had shot himself...

On 16 July 1922, while the ruins of Birr Barracks were still smoldering after having been set alight on the 14th, George Beattie passed...

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....