Headstone unveiled for Cornelious Coughlan who was awarded the Victoria Cross for action in India.
The service in Mayo was to honour Sergeant Cornelious Coughlan who was awarded the British Army's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, for his bravery during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. Cornelious Coughlan is one of 200 Irish men to have been awarded the Victoria Cross.
Two centuries ago, British army regiments recruited thousands of young Irish men to serve in their overseas campaigns.
Some 147 years later, Minister for Defence Michael Smith, unveiled a headstone in the memory of Sergeant Major Cornelius Coughlan over his previously unmarked grave. Patricia O'Callaghan, was at the service and spoke about how great it was to see her great-great-grandfather honoured in this way.
Irish and British army veterans took part in the ceremony. Stuart Eldon, British Ambassador to Ireland, says that the event symbolises the development of the relationship between Britain and Ireland and a willingness to talk about our shared history.
Michael Smith says that events like this help us understand the past and the future.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 7 August 2004. The reporter is Jim Fahy.
