More than 3,500 Irish died in the savage Battle of the Somme

The centenary of the Battle of the Somme recalls the futility of war, writes Ryle Dwyer

Today marks the centenary of the start of the Battle of the Somme, which extended over four and a half months and left battle scars that have been felt ever since.

It was part of the First World War, the so-called Great War, which had begun in August 1914. It has never received the coverage that it deserves in this country.