Memorial records of Irish soldiers who died during the First World War made available online.
An online archive of memorial records, providing information on Irish soldiers who died in the First World War has been launched. It is hoped the digitized records will be a valuable resource for families, researchers and students.
Hidden history in Marsh's Library in Dublin.
Marsh's Library is one of several institutions to hold copies of Ireland's memorial records.
The records were published in 1923 and list the details of more than 49,000 Irish soldiers who died in the First World War.
Dr Jason McElligott, Keeper at Marsh's Library, says that most of the public had no idea that these records had been kept. Ninety years later, the online version of these records has been made available to the public. Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore launched the new online archive at Google headquarters in Dublin. The event was attended by Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
Piet Chielens, In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres, says that making these records available is a demonstration of how we now better address the past.
Clare Connaughton from Blackrock in Dublin has been researching the story of one of her relatives, Private Thomas Connolly from New Ross, for several years. Private Thomas Connolly died in action in France in 1917. Clare Connaughton welcomes the launch of the new online resource as an important and useful research tool.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 10 January 2014. The reporter is Philip Bromwell.
