A LEATHER-BOUND book of over 300 names of those from Killarney and surrounds who fought in the first World War has been presented to the town at a meeting of the town council.
It follows a visit by President Mary McAleese last September and the unveiling of a memorial alongside the Munster Fusiliers monument (the British army regiment which generations of Kerry men joined) to all who died and who had until recently remained unspoken about publicly.
The monthly meeting on Monday heard the list of 308 names of young soldiers who joined the forces – some 192 of whom had died – was expected to grow, as research was ongoing and more Killarney people were expected to be uncovered. Of the 126 who returned, many were injured and bore emotional and other scars, relatives have said.
Noel Grimes, chairman of the war memorial committee, said in presenting the book to new mayor Donal Grady (Ind): “We must let future generations know that Killarney is not all about tourism – there’s another part of our town, not to be forgotten – its people.”
Of the young men who died – the surnames run from Adams to Warner – most were killed at Gallipoli, and some at the Somme.
A copy is to be placed in the town’s public library.