Stephen Callaghan
The tragic death of Margaret McCarthy of Birr
Margaret Price was born in Parsonstown (Birr) on 16 December 1870. She was the daughter of Henry Price and Jane Price (née Boyle). Henry...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Jun 20, 2022
- 2 min
The tragic end of Captain John Pilkington
John Edward Maxwell Pilkington was born on 9 September 1856 at Carrick House, Queen’s County. He was the son of William and Isabella...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Jun 4, 2022
- 3 min
Colonel George Robert Hopkins, 53rd Foot
George Robert Hopkins was born circa 1819, belonging to an old Kilkenny family. Not much is known about George’s early life. He was...
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Stephen Callaghan
- May 2, 2022
- 3 min
Patrick Burke of Moorpark, Birr
Patrick Burke was born at Moorpark, Parsonstown, King’s County on 13 March 1881. He was the son of William Burke and Rosanna Burke (nee...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Apr 8, 2022
- 3 min
Xhosa War and India Mutiny Veteran John Houlihan
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...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Apr 1, 2022
- 3 min
Cavalry Officer and Duelist - Captain Alexander Munro
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...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Feb 6, 2022
- 1 min
The Handover of Birr Barracks 100 years ago
A century ago today, Birr Barracks was officially handed over to the National Army. The last of the Leinster Regiment had departed only...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Feb 2, 2022
- 2 min
Leinsters Depart Birr 100 years ago
A century ago today the Leinster Regiment left Birr Barracks for the last time. As per the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which was signed in...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Jan 21, 2022
- 3 min
The Birr Raid
With a major barracks so close to Birr town, interactions with soldiers were daily. For most instances, interactions were uneventful and...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Jan 14, 2022
- 2 min
Private James Mooney from Birr, Offaly
The 17 January marks the 106th anniversary of the death of James Mooney, 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment. As it nears the anniversary of...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Dec 24, 2021
- 2 min
T/Sergeant Michael Broderick
Michael Joseph Broderick was the eldest son of Laurence Broderick and Annie Broderick (née Killen). He was born at Cappacur, County...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Nov 26, 2021
- 4 min
The Service of Captain Gilbert Powell 1913 - 1928
Countless times I have passed the grave of Capt. Gilbert Powell in Clonoghill Cemetery in Birr, County Offaly. Some brief attempts to...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Oct 25, 2021
- 2 min
A Forgotten Peninsular War Veteran in Birr - George Power
While recently browsing the Church of Ireland burial records for Birr, I came across a record relating to George Power, a 56-year-old...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Sep 18, 2021
- 2 min
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, 2021
- 2 min
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, 2021
- 3 min
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, 2021
- 2 min
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, 2021
- 2 min
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, 2021
- 2 min
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, 2021
- 2 min
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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