Proposing A WW1 Memorial

[Arnhem44]

Hello everyone,I thought I would post this here and ask the many on here who have done this before me about getting a memorial of some form put up in my local town to the men from there that died throughout the war.I've just spoken to one of my local councilior's and produced a list of 65 names to him which I must say he showed great interest in and said he would speak to the local town clerk about the matter.The memorial would be in the town of Clonakilty in West Cork,the same town General Michael Collins came from who is very much honoured here,I'm expecting some stiff opposition to the memorial from some but for the many people on here who have been involved in such projects would anybody be able to point me in the right direction as how best to take this proposal forward such as how to fund it and promote it, ect ect.

Brendan

[John_Hartley]

Of course, there are comparitively few new memorials these days. Most of the originals, erected in the early 1920s, were funded either by public subscription (often organised by the parish church) or provided by the local authority. I'd have thought that, as you already have a foot in the door with the local council, that'd be the way to go.

Am I right in thinking that your mention of "stiff opposition" might be related to the politics of the area at the time (I have something of an interest in the Kilmichael incident and have visited the site)? If so, might it be an idea to widen the scope of the memorial to include local members of the Republican Army who were killed and, to bring it up to date, any local members of the Irish forces who have been killed in the country's various UN peace-keeping operations over the years (assuming there have been some).

[mick1234]

Brendan,

John is right, Look what was done in Castlebar, Co Mayo with the opening of the Mayo Peace Park last year.

I am sure that anyone associated with that project would be keen to give any advice needed.Contacts can be got from their web site, http://www.mayomemorialpeacepark.org/.

Rgds

Mick

[Arnhem44]

Thanks guy's for the input.I hadn't planned to add any other names other than WW1 casualties.In my view all should be remembered but there are already many memorials to the old republican forces throughout the area.There is also a plaque to three ex pupils on the old national school who fought during the 1916 Uprising,one of these been Michael Collins,the other two been Seán Hurley and Con O'Donovan who were attached to the Four Courts command,Seán Hurley losing his life.The remark to stiff opposition is towards some who I have been told will most likely oppose such a project but hopefully will see past any indifferences they may have but to be honest I would prefer to not get into the political side of things right now.I'm hoping to speak to some people from other towns who have already been involved in such projects at the book launch of the Cork War Dead at the City Hall this coming Tuesday but Mick I may also take your advice and contact the Mayo project group and ask them for some advice and pointers.Thanks.

Brendan

[KevinBattle]

In these times of austerity, the local Council may well look more favourably on a Roll of Honour perhaps on vellum and displayed in a case in the Town Hall either alphabetically one to a page with details where known, or a Day by Day Casualty Listing....

Local Newspaper archives may help, as well as an Appeal to the current readers of the paper for further information and to ensure no one with links to the Town is forgotten.

[Arnhem44]

Hi Kevin,I will have to put a request for information in the local newspaper,I would expect for more names to become known as time goes on as is the case with most of these type of projects.It's still at the beginning and hopefully I'll know more during the week as how the council see things.

[1690philip]

Have you contacted the British Legion? I think the best way to raise the money is to try and part fund the project with fun raising and the rest with council funding. There must be an heritage fund of some type, try and contact the community development department of the council and explore your options. I am sure there will be other people thinking the same about a memorial and the more people you have onside the louder the voice. It that fails contact other councillors and start a petition. Good luck.

Phil

[Arnhem44]

Thanks Phil,I hadn't thought of the legion.

[1690philip]

Also what about the Irish Goverment must be money there............ cross border project maybe...........has to be something out there.

Phil

[Arnhem44]

Money was one of the biggest hurdles the local councilor expected to have to cross once proposed to the town clerk,the recession is to blame for that.I guess there's going to be a bit of a journey ahead on this one.Thanks for all your help.

Brendan

[inishowen]

Arnhem44-

have you made contact with the Bandon War Memorial Committee? As far as i know they were one of the first groups to erect a memorial in recent times and they aren't too far away from Clonakilty.

We hope one day to have a memorial in Inishowen too, probably at Fort Dunree, but in the meantime we have organised a remembrance service every year where we read out the names of all those who died from the Inishowen area. This year its on June 27th and you'd be more than welcome to attend.

Fearghal.

[museumtom]

Brendan.

The Cork War Dead book is being launched tommorrow evening at 8pm in the City Hall. Its the place to be for advice and support.

Regards.

Tom/

[KevinBattle]

Here's a quick list using Geoff's Search Engine and Clonakilty.

Please note that something unusual has happened here:

There are 39 Names but you will see that the first and last Hayes M are actually for the same man, Matthew Hayes.... using both his Service Numbers!!

Clonakilty_WW1_RoH.doc

[Arnhem44]

Arnhem44-

have you made contact with the Bandon War Memorial Committee? As far as i know they were one of the first groups to erect a memorial in recent times and they aren't too far away from Clonakilty.

We hope one day to have a memorial in Inishowen too, probably at Fort Dunree, but in the meantime we have organised a remembrance service every year where we read out the names of all those who died from the Inishowen area. This year its on June 27th and you'd be more than welcome to attend.

Fearghal.

Hi Feargal,I'm hoping to meet some of the committee tomorrow at the book launch at City Hall which also answers Tom's post(Thanks Tom).Fermoy as far I know has been the most recent to be unveiled and a video of the launch can be viewed online.

Brendan

[Arnhem44]

Here's a quick list using Geoff's Search Engine and Clonakilty.

Please note that something unusual has happened here:

There are 39 Names but you will see that the first and last Hayes M are actually for the same man, Matthew Hayes.... using both his Service Numbers!!

Hi Kevin,I did find the duplicate of Matthew Hayes when I first started to look into the names,the CWGC has two entries for him,one for a memorial and another for a burial.I have been in contact over the past couple of months with Sean who was one of the people involved in the Cork War Dead book and pointed this out and as far as I can remember some of these error's have been picked up on.

Brendan

[Fred W]

In October 2009 a new war memorial was erected and dedicated in Nelson, Lancashire. It contains 1391 names of men and women associated with the town who died in The South African War, WW1,WW2 on National Service and in Northern Ireland. I was successful in getting the memorial erected by the support of the Royal British Legion, by the local townsfolk, through the local press, and by the local councilors. Mind you it took a few years to achieve this. Fortunately, the town had received a grant for the regeneration of the centre and the memorial was made part of this. So my advice is keep your project in the public eye and lobby as much local support as possible and never give up.

Fred

[Arnhem44]

Thanks for the advice Fred and congratulations on the new memorial,you must of been a very proud man that day.I shall heed your advice and try my best to keep it going.

Brendan