Stephen Callaghan
Boer War and Great War Veteran Thomas Hickey
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...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Jan 22
- 2 min
A Letter to Rinagry, Ballina, County Mayo and its Sender
While browsing online auction sites, I came across an "On Active Service" envelope sent from Field Post Office H.12 by a soldier serving...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Sep 26, 2022
- 2 min
A Soldier's Spoon
Today we are going to look at what might initially look like an innocuous object, a spoon! However, this is no ordinary kitchen spoon, it...
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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
- 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
- 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
- Sep 24, 2021
- 2 min
A Great War ID Tag - Private Lawlor, Leinster Regiment
In a previous post we looked at an unofficially Great War era aluminum identity tag. Today we will take a look at an officially issued ID...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Aug 26, 2021
- 2 min
From the Big House to the Great War - Private Kelly of Lucan.
The 26 August 2021 marks 107 years since the death of Private William Kelly of Lucan, County Dublin. Today we will examine the life of...
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Stephen Callaghan
- Aug 20, 2021
- 2 min
Lance Corporal Albert Strong from Thomastown
The pictured pair of medals belong to Albert Ernest Strong, these were bought separately over a period of years, effectively reuniting...
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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
- Jul 2, 2021
- 2 min
Just a Victory Medal - Private Moloney
A few years ago I bought a cheaply priced Victory Medal to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, the recipient was William Moloney. Some basic...
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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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Stephen Callaghan
- May 14, 2021
- 2 min
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, 2021
- 3 min
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, 2021
- 2 min
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, 2021
- 3 min
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, 2021
- 3 min
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, 2021
- 2 min
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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