Thurles Remembers Known Thurles Area Officers & Men Who Died Following WW1.

We recall today, in solemn remembrance, the names of brave officers and men from the Thurles area of Co. Tipperary, whose names we share hereunder:-

Anderson John, Armstrong William Maurice (Capt) M.C., Beirne John, Bermingham Patrick, Bourke James, Brett Timothy, Butler John, Byrne Patrick, Carroll Martin, Carroll Thomas, Carty John, Cassidy John, Cleary Joseph, Cleary Patrick, Cleary Thomas, Coady Edward, Coady Joseph, Coady Richard, Coffey Michael, Cooke Henry F, Cooney David,Cummins John, Conway Denis, Cunningham John V.C., Cunningham Patrick, Cusack Oliver, Dea Patrick, Dwyer Cornelius, Egan Martin, Fitzpatrick Joseph, Gouldsborough Patrick, Griffin Thomas, Hackett Martin, Hanrahan Daniel, Hayes Daniel, Hayes Thomas, Hennessey Thomas, Horan Joseph, Jordan Denis, Kelly James, Kelly William, Kennedy Matthew, Kiely Owen, Knox Hubert Lt Col., Knox William Lt Col., Lawyer Joseph, Maher Frank, Maher James, Maher James Bernard, Maher John, McCormack Francis, McCormack Thomas, McLoughlin James J, Meany James, Mockler Patrick, Moyler George, O’Brien Lawrence, O’Grady Patrick, O’Shea John, Power Michael, Purcell Philip, Quinlan Joseph, Ryan Andrew, Ryan James, Ryan John, Ryan Martin, Ryan Michael, Ryan Patrick, Scally Patrick, Shields Matthew, Stapleton John, Sullivan Patrick, Terry Timothy, Walsh James.

Anthem for Doomed Youth
By Late English poet and soldier, Wilfred Owen, (1893 -1918).

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle,
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells,
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall,
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
END

The Duty of Memory.
These brave men answered a call, that many did not fully understand, from our community, our county, and the land they left behind, before paying the ultimate price. The fact that their names endure on memorials across Tipperary, reminds us of the duty of memory: that each man above was more than a name on a wall, more than a casualty figure, but a husband, father, brother or son from Thurles and its environs who trusted his comrades, and his country.

In the quiet of this hour we reflect on the scale of sacrifice. A county such as Ireland, far from the main theatres of war, yet intimately touched by them, who bore heavy cost.

Each of the men listed above carried hopes and dreams and found themselves amidst the unimaginable defiance of trench warfare, the muddy fields of France and Flanders, or struggling with wounds long after the guns fell silent. Even returning home did not always mean freedom from the consequences of this war.

Today we honour their courage and commit to keeping their memory alive in Thurles and beyond. May we, in our quiet thoughts, renew our respect and our gratitude for their service.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anama dílis.
In ár gcroíthe go deo.