ii. Irish Soldiers
From its inception the Trust recognises that military museums are one medium through which the story may be told. Despite Ireland's military traditions the Republic of Ireland does not have a dedicated military museum accessible to the public In contrast there are three such in Northern Ireland, at Armagh, Belfast and Enniskillen.
Working with the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin the Trust succeeded in obtaining the co-operation and support of the military museums in Northern Ireland for the plans to develop military galleries within the National
Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks, Dublin.
To tell the story of the Irish soldier through these galleries, it is necessary to have a comprehensive range of archives, artefacts and memorabilia, and it is accepted that neither the Museum nor the Defence Forces have sufficient material. In order to identify sources for such material, and in addition to working with the trustees and officials of the military museums in Northern Ireland, liaison has been made through military attaches based in Ireland to establish contacts with military museums abroad, as well as regimental and veteran associations in Ireland (North and South).
When these new galleries open in 2005, their existence will demonstrate to the people of Ireland and the world the beginning of a new all-Ireland approach to the way in which we tell the story of the Irish soldier.
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iii. Military Research Alliances
The exhibition of artefacts in museums is one way to tell the story of the past. However there is further evidence in the rich archival material, in public and private ownership, located in Ireland and throughout the countries where Irish men and women have given military service.
The Trust, in co-operation with Trinity College, Dublin, has initiated a project to develop electronic and print resources to facilitate research by the general public and by specialists in all aspects of Ireland's military heritage from the earliest times to the present day. A Research Officer has been engaged to undertake this project, working in conjunction with Professor Eunan O'Halpin in the Department of Modern History at Trinity College. The American Ireland Fund is providing a grant of US$22,000 to help fund this project.It is hoped to expand the project to various
countries in which those soldiers gave their service. Such expansion will require funding and the support of the universities
in the countries concerned.
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