PAUDIE TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT LAUNCH OF GREAT WAR BOOK
Fermoy man, Paudie McGrath this week took his place on the stage at the launch of A Great Sacrifice, Cork servicemen who died in the Great War, a book which he helped to compile over the last two years.
The Cork City Hall was packed on Tuesday night for the launch of this long awaited book. Both Cork city and county mayors were on hand for the moving event, which was both a celebration and a remembrance of almost 4000 Cork men, who died while serving with the British and American armies during WW1.
“I am delighted to be here tonight and to see the wonderful book that we have all worked so hard on,” Paudie McGrath from Fermoy, who was part of the research team, told The Avondhu.
“Dr Brendan O’Shea and Gerry White agreed to act as joint editors, and they also invited other local historians to join the project team, and to this end, I was cordially invited to become a member of the project team,” Paudie said.
Addressing those assembled at the launch, county mayor, Derry Canty spoke of the need to finally remember Cork’s war dead.
“For a long time the men and indeed the women of Cork who died in the Great War were, in fact, forgotten. This book now gives voice to all those who gave their lives at a very important time in our history and I am glad that we are finally giving due recognition to Cork’s war dead. This is a great book for a great county and I want to congratulate all those who took part in compiling A Great Sacrifice, Cork servicemen who died in the Great War,” Derry Canty said.
CEO of the county VEC, Patrick O’Brien recalled the story of his uncle, also named Patrick, who emigrated to America in 1913.
“This book will touch the lives of many people in the city and county. Many families will not know of their relatives who fought because for many they never spoke of it again after they returned to a very different Ireland.
My uncle was drafted into the America army and fought on the western front until he was gassed just a few months before the war ended in 1918. I want to congratulate the team that worked so hard on this wonderful book and I am delighted that both the city and county VEC’s were so involved with this project,” Patrick O’Brien said.
In April, 2005, the Irish Vocational Education Association wrote to the City of Cork Vocational Education Committee (VEC) in relation to an initiative by Paddy Harte, the former TD for Donegal, that was dedicated to the recording the names of all Irishmen, who had fallen in battle during the Great War of 1914-1918.
Mr Harte then sent a copy of the Donegal Book of Honour to all VECs and urged that they publish similar books for their respective counties.
In response to this invitation the CEOs of both Cork VECs agreed to initiate a similar publication for County Cork. They then contacted local military historians Dr Brendan O’Shea (Lt. Col. Collins Bk’s, Cork.) and Gerry White (C.Q.M.S. Collins Bk’s. Cork.) and asked them if they would like to become involved.
A Great Sacrifice, Cork servicemen who died in the Great War, is now on sale in bookshops throughout Cork city and county.
Published:
Thursday 3rd June 6:27pm
