Waterford academic receives tribute for work on those who served in WWI

WATERFORD’S mayor has paid tribute to the work done by a Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) academic, which “ensured the sacrifices” of 114 known people from the south-east who served in the first world war would be remembered.

Communications and history lecturer Alice McDermott on November 11 led the Memorial to the Fallen research project within the institute’s school of humanities. The project examined the experiences of men and women from the region who served in the war and how the conflict impacted on their families. Ms McDermott’s work culminated in an ecumenical remembrance service at WIT on Armistice Day, the 90th anniversary of the war’s ending.

Accepting a roll of honour containing the names of those from the south-east known to have served in the war, mayor of Waterford Cr Jack Walsh said: “It is really only in the recent past that there has been a fuller recognition of the bravery of these very young Irish men and women who went to fight in foreign fields for a cause they believed in passionately.” The work is on permanent display as part of the Waterford Treasures at the Granary exhibition in the city.