Stephen Callaghan
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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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Stephen Callaghan
- Jun 6, 2021
- 3 min
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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