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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
Apr 30, 20213 min read
The Healy's of Charleville, Cork
The recent release of the World War One pension cards has made spotting large family contributions to the war effort much clearer. One...
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Stephen Callaghan
Apr 8, 20212 min read
A Souvenir of Mesopotamia - Pioneer Joseph Kelly
While looking through online auctions sites I came across the following brass plaque or 'trench art', clearly a souvenir of service in...
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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 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
Mar 5, 20212 min read
Story behind a Postcard - Private James Bradshaw
A number of years ago, I was keen on collecting postcards of soldiers of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Some postcards would be named...
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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 5, 20213 min read
Private Michael Byrne's Silver War Badge
The Silver War Badge, often incorrectly called the Silver Wound Badge, is a fascinating award. First issued in 1916 the badge was issued...
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Stephen Callaghan
Jan 22, 20212 min read
Gunner Patrick Brien, Royal Garrison Artillery
Today we look at Gunner Patrick Brien of the Royal Garrison Artillery who is buried in Killoughy Cemetery, County Offaly. Killoughly...
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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
Nov 13, 20206 min read
Saving Captain Studholme's Cross
11 November 2020 marks one year to the day since the 6.6-meter-tall oak cross commemorating Captain Lancelot Joseph Moore Studholme was...
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Stephen Callaghan
Oct 30, 20201 min read
Clonoghill Stories: Lieutenant Malcolm Willington MC
Robert Malcolm Vernon Willington was born at St Kieran’s, Dorrha, County Tipperary on 13 November 1895.He was the youngest son of James...
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Stephen Callaghan
Oct 16, 20202 min read
Venice Hackett V.A.D.
Venice Clementia Henrietta Hackett was born at noon on 27 February 1887 in Strathblane, Scotland. She was the daughter of Edward Augustus...
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Stephen Callaghan
Oct 9, 20205 min read
'I saw a temporary field hospital shelled' - L/Corp Cummins, Royal Irish Regiment
James Cummins was born in Clonmel, County Tipperary on 7 May 1881. He was the son of James Cummins and Mary Cummins (née O'Donnell)....
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Stephen Callaghan
Sep 25, 20203 min read
Birr's Royal Marine - Colonel Arthur Kelly Evans
Clonoghill Cemetery, Birr, County Offaly is filled with numerous impressive monuments, many of these were carved by the skilled hands of...
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Stephen Callaghan
Sep 11, 20202 min read
Born in a Workhouse - Private Stephen Scully, Royal Munster Fusiliers
Today we look at the life of Stephen Scully, someone who started off in life with very little, yet distinguished himself during the Great...
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Stephen Callaghan
Aug 21, 20203 min read
One of the Missing - 2/Lieut Oliver Wendell Holmes
Oliver was born in Trim, County Meath on 6 September 1896. He was the son of Head Constable Michael Holmes and Marianne Holmes (Nee...
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Stephen Callaghan
Aug 14, 20202 min read
Life after the War, Drummer Peter Craffey, Leinster Regiment
This is the story of Peter Craffey. A professional soldier, wounded and taken prisoner during the Great War. Peter's post war life was...
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Stephen Callaghan
Aug 7, 20203 min read
Military sports and spectacles in Birr, August 1919
This post appeared on the Offaly History Blog in August of 2019, but with current world events and the cancellation of Birr Vintage week....
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