Their Story – An exhibition on the Irish in World War One
Their Story was an exhibition marking the involvement of two Irish Divisions in World War 1 – the 16th (Irish) and 36th (Ulster). The exhibition examined some of the motivation that caused men to enlist and looked at their subsequent training leading to the Battle of the Somme. It also looked at the reception that many of these men had when they arrived home as well as the manner in which their efforts have been remembered.
In a first for the County Museum, Dundalk the entire exhibition may be seen on these pages. This viewing comprises the actual exhibition as well as the complete text and panel presentation.
The exhibition examined many aspects of the soldier’s life including the motivation to enlist, the nature of training, the layout of the day when at the Front and ultimately the aftermath of the war when they returned home. It captured both the innocence of the time when the belief that the war would be over by Christmas and the horrors that these men experienced when going ‘over the top’. Developed through the Military Heritage of Ireland Trust as part of their programme to promote a wider understanding of the history of the Irish soldier the exhibition was produced jointly with the Royal Ulster Rifles Regimental Museum.
Exhibition contributors:
- The Military Trust of Ireland
- The Royal Ulster Rifles Regimental Museum
- The Aiken Barracks Dundalk Town Council
- The Staff of the County Museum, Dundalk
- Tony Martin
- Liam Gaynor
- Derek Smyth
- Lester Morrow
More information may be had by contacting the Museum at 042 9327056/7
Click here to view a gallery of World War 1 panel images
Click here to view a gallery of World War 1 exhibition images
