Another blog entry prompted by my reading of Ireland in History Day by Day and the request by John Redmond for Irishmen to join the British Army and fight in World War 1. This in turn reminded of the framed image of Sgt. Michael O’Leary spotted in The Cork Arms on MacCurtain St on Thursday night. Then I remember being told of Sgt. O’Leary from Inchigeela who had been awarded a Victoria Cross and he being one of only two named faces used in recruitment posters for the British Army in WW1, the other being Lord Kitchener – who I learnt from Neil Richardson at the Ennis Bookclub Festival was also from Ireland – Horatio Herbert Kitchener being from Ballylongford, Co. Kerry. | “20 September 1914: John Redmond, the Leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party encouraged members of the Irish Volunteers to join the British army on this day. He did this in a speech at Woodenbridge.” |