Soldiers’ memorial set for city square

THE first-ever national memorial to Irish soldiers who died on duty will be sited in Dublin’s Merrion Square, it emerged today.

The €175,000 project is expected to be in place by the end of the year, according to Defence Minister Willie O’Dea.

Artist Brian King won an open tender competition to create the Defence Forces memorial, beating off 30 other artists from Ireland, Britain and Germany.