Irish pipers in WWI to be commemorated

ON October 18 in the village of Longueval, Sommes, France, a dedication ceremony is being held to commemorate all Irish pipers killed during the Great War.

In July last year, a magnificent memorial standing over four metres high, depicting a piper in full battle dress exiting a trench climbing over sandbags, was unveiled to commemorate known pipers who were killed. 12 Irish regiments are now being commemorated on the memorial.

Several Irish pipe bands and individual pipers are attending along with the representatives of the various regiments for this services. After the service, there will be a civic reception in the village.

Following this, over the course of two days, there will be a tour around the Somme and Ypres battlefields with experienced guides and this will focus on the involvement of the Irish regiments who fought in the area.

Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and the 36th Division Memorial on the Somme as well as the village of Guillemont, captured by the 16th Division are all on the tour. Messines Ridge, where the two Irish divisions fought side by side is also being visited.

A visit is also being made to the Menin Gate memorial in Belgium and the bands will be playing there at the Last Post ceremony at 8pm on the Sunday night. The tour is open to anyone who may wish to attend and it will be possible to visit any grave or memorial in the area should you wish to do so. For full details, please contact me at the address below.

Fiona O’Connell,

Rahealy,

Ardrahan,

Co Galway.