Under the auspices of the Glasnevin Trust, Armistice Day Commemorations were conducted in Glasnevin Cemetery Dublin, on Saturday 11 November. The commemorations included an Ecumenical Service in the Church of the Resurrection, a Parade to the France-Ireland Memorial and Cross of Sacrifice, the Unveiling of Victory Cross Commemorative Plaques and a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Cross of Sacrifice.
Under the auspices of the Glasnevin Trust, Armistice Day Commemorations were conducted in Glasnevin Cemetery Dublin, on Saturday 11 November. The commemorations included an Ecumenical Service in the Church of the Resurrection, a Parade to the France-Ireland Memorial and Cross of Sacrifice, the Unveiling of Victory Cross Commemorative Plaques and a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Cross of Sacrifice.
The St James’ Band played during the Ecumenical Service. The last hymn sung was ‘Abide with me’ and, either by accident or design, the band stopped playing for the last verse and the congregation sang it unaccompanied. The effect was very moving as this was a hymn sung by allied troops in the trenches before battle and of course they sang it unaccompanied. There was a silence after this hymn finished which was palpable as if everyone in the church realised that what they had just experienced had echoes down the years going back to those men about to do battle.
Following the service, attendees moved to the France-Ireland Memorial where wreaths were laid by Cllr McGinley, Deputy Mayor of Dublin, H.E. Mr Robin Barnett, The British Ambassador, H.E. M Stéphane Crouzat, The French Ambassador, Mr Paul Hoey, President of The French Foreign Legion in Ireland, and Mr John Green, Chairman of the Glasnevin Trust. This was followed by the playing of the ‘Appel aux Morts’, a minute silence and finally the playing of ‘Le Boudin’.
Mr John Green, Chairman of the Glasnevin Trust, led the proceedings at the Cross of Sacrifice. Following an Ecumenical Blessing by Reverend David Oxley and Fr Barney McGuckian SJ, assisted by Fr Tobert McCabe, four Victoria Cross Commemorative Plaques were unveiled. The associated citations were read by Mr Conor Dodd, Resident Historian of Glasnevin Trust. Details of the unveiling are as follows:
- Sergeant John Moyney VC, Irish Guards, unveiled by Mr Niall Burgess representing the Irish Government and Mr. John Moyney, Grandson of John Moyney VC.
- Captain Clement Robertson VC, Tank Corps unveiled by H.E. Stéphane Crouzat, French Ambassador to Ireland and Ian Robertson, great nephew of Clement Robertson VC.
- Second Lieutenant James Emerson VC, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, unveiled by H.E. Robin Barnett, British Ambassador to Ireland and John Emerson, nephew of James Emerson VC
- Private James Duffy VC, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers unveiled by Mrs. Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle CBE, Lord Lieutenant of Belfast and Nellie O’ Donnell (nee Duffy), daughter of James Duffy VC.
A wreath laying ceremony then took place at the Cross of Sacrifice: Cllr. Ruairí McGinley, representing the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Niall Burgess Secretary-General of the Department of Foreign Affairs representing Irish Government, Mrs. Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle CBE, Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, H. E.Robin Barnett, British Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Stéphane Crouzat, French Ambassador to Ireland, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Martin, Defense Attaché, US Embassy in Ireland, H.E. Kevin M. Vickers, Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Carlo Siciliano, Deputy Head of Mission, Italian Embassy in Ireland, Mr Simon Mamouney, Chargés D’Affaires, Australian Embassy in Ireland, Mrs. Bernadette Scheid, Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Belgian Embassy in Ireland, Mr. Alan McCarthy, Hon. Consul, New Zealand, and Ms Judith O’ Connell, Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Military Heritage of Ireland Trust was represented by Brigadier-General Paul Fry (Retd).
New Headstones and Markers – WW1 and WW2 Graves
In 2008, Glasnevin Trust and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission set about the task of marking previously unmarked graves in Glasnevin Cemetery of World War I and World War II graves of soldiers, sailors, air men and women. This task is now complete and in addition, 104 headstones, or Gallipoli markers, have been placed on family graves wherein the remains the fallen lie. In addition, the Trust, along with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, relocated World War One and World War Two commemorative screen walls from the Prospect Gate area to a more prominent location near Glasnevin’s Mortuary Chapel.
View our Flickr Gallery of Images of the Event >>
