WWI archive event at Trinity

People who have family memorabilia related to the first World War will have an opportunity this week to show it to experts in Trinity College

Dublin, which is hosting the World War One Roadshow next Saturday.

The college hopes people will bring items including letters, photographs, mementoes such as uniforms, ephemera or equipment handed down, to be examined and photographed so copies may be kept in an online European archive.

From 9.30am to 5.30pm, the college will host a series of lectures, tours of the campus and what are described as "pop-up" talks – all related to the Great War and free of charge. Included in the activities will be a re-enactment of the "last cricket match of peace" and the day will conclude with the playing of The Last Post.

Showcase

The World War One Roadshow forms part of Trinity College Dublin’s engagement with the “decade of commemorations”, said Prof

James Wickham

. “With its programme of talks and lectures it will showcase research being conducted in

Ireland

on this period; it will also remember the over 450 Trinity College graduates who died in the Great War.

“We want it to be an informative and thought-provoking day concerning Ireland’s part in World War One. We want people to come away from it with a greater understanding of Ireland’s role in what was one of the bloodiest conflicts of our time.”

As part of the collections day, people are encouraged to bring their items and memories to be catalogued, digitised and uploaded to an archive in time for the anniversary of the outbreak of the war in 1914.

Katherine McSharry, head of services with the National Library, says there is “huge interest” in the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the war. “The anniversary reminds us how important it is to ensure physical memorabilia of key historical events, brought to life with people’s stories and memories, are recorded for posterity . . .” Further information from: rte.ie/worldwar1 and also tcd.ie/decade-commemoration/events/world-war-one- roadshow/