THE BARRACK SQUARE

In the military cemetery located in Crinkill, just outside Birr, there is a memorial commemorating the death casualties of the...

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...

Within the Protestant section of Clonoghill Cemetery, perched upon the crest of the hill, is the grave of Sarah Mussin. Only aged 5...

The following article appearing in a previous edition of the genealogical magazine, Irish Lives Remembered. Online auction sites are full...

Around 15 years ago, while going through burial records for Clonoghill Cemetery, Birr, I came across an entry for a “John Gunning”, what...

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...

Margaret Price was born in Parsonstown (Birr) on 16 December 1870. She was the daughter of Henry Price and Jane Price (née Boyle). Henry...

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...

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...

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...

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

A century ago today the Leinster Regiment left Birr Barracks for the last time. As per the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which was signed in...

With a major barracks so close to Birr town, interactions with soldiers were daily. For most instances, interactions were uneventful and...

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

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

Countless times I have passed the grave of Capt. Gilbert Powell in Clonoghill Cemetery in Birr, County Offaly. Some brief attempts to...

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