Trust News  Issue October 2006

October 2006

• Links between Museums North and South
• New Wing at National Museum of Ireland
• Visit by the Royal Irish Fusiliers Association
• The Military History Society of Ireland Programme for Winter 2006-7

Links between Museums North and South

The Irish on the Somme in World War One (A combined exhibition)

The County Louth Museum in Dundalk and the Royal Ulster Rifles Regimental Museum in Belfast have mounted a combined exhibition commemorating the stories of the shared experiences of the 16th (Ulster) and the 36th (Irish) Divisions during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

The Dundalk exhibition was opened by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., on Friday the 29th September 2006, while the Belfast exhibition will open later in October Entitled ‘Their Story’, they reveal the fortunes of the two Divisions who saw action in the First World War. Developed through the Military Heritage of Ireland Trust as part of their programme to promote a wider understanding of the history of the Irish soldier, the exhibitions were produced jointly by the two museums.

The exhibitions look at the many aspects of the soldier’s life including the motivation to enlist, the nature of training, the layout of the day when at the Front and ultimately the aftermath of the war when they returned home. They capture both the innocence of the time when the belief that the war would be over by Christmas and the horrors that these men experienced when going ‘over the top’. It must not be forgotten, of course, that all Irish battalions that served in the Western Front in 1916 took their turn in the trenches during the Battle of the Somme.

According to the Dundalk Museum’s Curator, Brian Walsh, “the First World War was in many ways the first industrial war and these exhibitions capture the scale and overwhelming nature of battle, leaving no-one in any doubt as to the horrors that were encountered. Given that this year was the 90th anniversary of the Somme it is important that the 135,000 Irishmen who enlisted are remembered and these exhibitions, I feel, recognises their efforts. Moreover we were delighted to have been approached by the Military Heritage of Ireland Trust to participate in this project, which gave us the all the rare opportunity to develop an exhibition with another Museum.”

Left to right: Mr. Brian Walsh; Museum Curator; Maj. Gen. Patrick F. Nowlan M.H.I.T., Mr. Dermot Aherne T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs; Capt. Jaki Knox M.B.E., Curator Royal Ulster Rifles Museum

The Dundalk exhibition will run until the end of October and features an array of interesting pieces including a number of World War 1 tunics, a Vickers machine gun and a telegram confirming the end of the War sent on November 11th, 1918. Admission to the exhibition is free. More information may be had by contacting Aine Shevlin at (042) 9327056.

The exhibition at The Royal Ulster Rifles Museum in Waring Street, Belfast, opened on Monday the 13th November by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Mr Pat McCarthy, will be on display until mid-December, and like Dundalk, admission is free.

Left to right: Dr. Patrick Wallace, Director of the National Museum of Ireland; Mr. Pat McCarthy (S.D.L.P.) Lord Mayor of Belfast; Maj. Gen. Patrick F. Nowlan, Chairman of the Military Heritage of Ireland Trust Ltd.; Captain Jaki Knox OBE, Curator Royal Ulster Rifles Regimental Museum and Mr. Brian Walsh, Curator of the County Louth Museum at the opening of the display at the Royal Ulster Rifles Museum in Waring Street, Belfast.

Mr. William McFadzean proudly holds the Victoria Cross that was awarded posthumously to his uncle Pte. William McFadzean of the Royal Ulster Rifles for “most conspicuous bravery” on 1st July 1916. On the opening day of the battle of the Somme he had thrown himself on top of a box of hand grenades that were about to explode and gave his life to save his comrades.

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New Wing at National Museum of Ireland Houses

First-ever Irish Military Exhibition

The exhibition was officially opened by Mr. John O’Donoghue, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism at the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7 on Thursday October 05th at 12 noon.

This permanent exhibition on Irish Military History is the first of its kind in Ireland and is located in a newly built 3-storey wing at Collins Barracks.

Taking over 4 years to mount, Soldiers & Chiefs displays more than 1,000 original artefacts, letters, replicas and interactive to illustrate how soldiering and war have affected the lives of Irish people.

Divided into 3 sections (Irish Soldiers at Home, Irish Soldiers Abroad, Irish Soldiers in the 20th Century) Soldiers and Chiefs also details the role of women and families in Irish military history.

John O’Donoghue, Minister for Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism, takes a Guard of Honour from the 5th Infantry Battalion at Collins Barracks on the occasion of the opening of the new Military Galleries.

The Director of the National Museum of Ireland, Dr Pat Wallace, commented “This is the most important development at the National Museum of Ireland since the opening of our Castlebar branch five years ago. It should serve as a signal that we no longer ignore difficult and hitherto unfashionable parts of our history”

The extensive collection of military artifacts, loans and recent donations includes; a Vampire Jet Fighter and Miles Magister which are hung from the ceiling in our new triple height space, the flag of the Dillon Regiment who fought at the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745, the first ever awarded Victoria Cross of Ensign Lucas, sword of one of Napoleon’s soldiers, Christmas cards and chocolate boxes from the trenches of WWI, a child’s gas mask from 1940 and a Padraig Pearse Hat and pistol from the 1916 Rising.

With over 100 firearms, 35 swords, 85 uniforms, this exhibit is sure to appeal as much to military enthusiasts as to those with an interest in the history of Ireland.

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Listings Information

Soldiers and Chiefs: The Irish at War at Home and Abroad Since 1550 opens to the public from Friday October 6th and will run as a permanent exhibition.

The National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks Dublin 7 is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and from 2pm to 5pm on Sundays. It is closed Mondays and Bank Holidays. ADMISSION to all exhibitions at The National Museum is FREE OF CHARGE. An extensive range of high-resolution imagery is available on request.

Dr. Patrick Wallace, Director National Museum with Mrs. Pamela Powers and family from Connecticut. Lt. Col. Kenneth Powers donated a private collection of material relating to the 69th Regiment, New York, prior to his death. This donation came through the auspices of the Military Heritage of Ireland Trust Ltd. Also included are Mr. Lar Joye, Curator of the new military exhibition and Mr. John Perry T.D. (Fine Gael).

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Paterson, from Albany in Western Australia, pictured with Mr. Lar Joye beside the exhibition dedicated to Lieutenant Colonel William Ferguson, who fought with the liberator of South America, Simon Bolivar. Mr. Paterson donated the uniform and papers of Ferguson, who was assassinated in Bogota in 1828, through the auspices of the Military Heritage of Ireland Trust Ltd.

For Further Information please contact:

Clare McNamara,
Marketing Executive
National Museum of Ireland
Collins Barracks
Benburb Street
Dublin 7

Tel: 01 - 648 64 47

E-Mail: cmcnamara at museum.ie

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Visit by the Royal Irish Fusiliers Association to the

Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh Camp

The Royal Irish Fusiliers Association, led by Col Arthur Reid and Col Hubert McAllister, visited the Defence Forces Training Centre at the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare, on Friday the 8th of September 2006. The tour began with a visit to the United Nations Training School Ireland, and later in the day observed a weapons and equipment display. The visitors expressed their deep appreciation to the General Officer Commanding, Brig Gen Pat Sullivan, for the warm welcome they received throughout the day.

Included in photograph:- Brig. Gen Patrick O’Sullivan, GOC DFTC; Maj. Gen. Patrick F. Nowlan, M.H.I.T.; Col Arthur Reid , Col Hubert McAllister, Comdt. Mark Prendergast & other members of the visiting group.

THE MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY OF IRELAND

Lecture Programme Winter 2006-2007

Lectures will be given at 8.00 p.m. in Griffith
College, South Circular Road, Dublin 8.
Non-members are welcome to all lectures.

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