Stephen Callaghan
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
- 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
- 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 9, 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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Stephen Callaghan
- Feb 27, 2021
- 2 min
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, 2021
- 3 min
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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