Photos Alison Hallahan and jbs kilkenny
Memorial services are a time for reflection, remembrance, and honouring the life of a loved one. One of the most poignant and symbolic rituals performed during these services is the lighting of candles. This simple act carries a profound significance that transcends cultural and religious boundaries, offering a universal language of love, loss, and hope. And so it was at the Peace park in Kilkenny on April 26, when a crown of nearly 100 people gathered to commemorate ANZAC Sunday .
At 15.00 hours, Commandant Larry Scallan (retired) sounded the whistle and proceedings got under way. Ambassadors from New Zealand, Australia and Turkey placed candles at the WW1 monument. Then Ambassador Chantel Taylor (Australia) Ambassador Ange Hassan Sharp (New Zealand) and Ambassador Esra Cankorur ( Turkey) placed their countries flags at the memorial.
The scene at the Peace Park was one of dignity and respect.
The attendance included Cllr Mary Hilda Kavanagh, chair of Kilkenny county council and Mayor of Kilkenny Cllr John Coonan. TD’S Jennifer Murnane O’Connor and Peter Chap Cleere were also present.
ANZAC Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations” and “the contribution and suffering of all those who have served”.
The 26th of April marks the 111th anniversary of the Australian and New Zealand landings at Gallipoli (now known as ANZAC cove).
The Kilkenny Great War Memorial stands testament to over 830 men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the Great War.
Included on its panels the names of 20 ANZAC soldiers and one nurse (Kathleen Power), all who were from Co Kilkenny.
James Stephens military barracks played a major role on the day, with their attendance adding a certain dignity to the occasion.
Music on the day was provided by The Unity singers and under the baton of John O’Neill they performed Abide with me and The day thou gavest O Lord has ended.
Each of the Ambassadors spoke and in turn they reflected of their countries involvement with Anzac day.
Pain of war
Australian ambassador Chantel Taylor said she was thrilled to return to Kilkenny and thanked the Great war memorial committee for the invitation. She explained that the cost of war was immense as on the first day alone 2,000 Australian and 1,000 New Zealand troops were killed or wounded. Ms Taylor went on to say: “At ANZAC cove, our soldiers arrived in darkness, under fire. They advances a mile in some places , less in others and could soon go no further.”
The ambassador said that the campaign that followed would last for eight months. Concluding her speech, Chantel said that by the time the final ANZACS were evacuated in 1915, around 8, 700 Australians had lost their lives, along with 2,700 from New Zealand and 3,000 Irish.
United
Ange Hassan Sharp, New Zealand ambassador, said that it was an honour to be in Kilkenny to recognise all who have served — past and present.
“Although ANZAC Day was born on the shores of Gallipoli, its meaning has never been limited to one place or one moment in history. In February this year, the New Zealand government updated the ANZAC Day Act to ensure commemorations reflect modern service and sacrifice while preserving ANZAC Day’s traditional meaning.”, said the ambassador.
Concluding her address the New Zealand ambassador asked three things of those gathered: To honour all who have served and continue to serve. To acknowledge their sacrifice with humility and gratitude, and to reaffirm our shared responsibility to pursue peace with the same resolve of those we honour today.
Our Sons
Esra Cankorur, the Turkish ambassador thanked the people of Kilkenny and the area of the South East for turning out in such great numbers. “It is an honour and a pleasure for me to be here at The Peace Park to remember the brave men and women who fought in this war. Mrs Cankorur reminded those present that foreign soldiers who died at Gallipoli “are lying in the soil of a friendly country and have become our sons as well.”
Requiem
Australian Trudy Buckett read the Anzac requiem, while Lt Anna Garnett read A prayer of remembrance. Flight Lt Samuel Green read an Anzac poem and the Ode of remembrance was read in English by Edward Carson and in Maori by Robert Browne.
The piper on the day was John Burke whose great grandfather was Sgt Denis Twomey MID, Royal garrison artillery who joined the British army in Templemore in 1893. He served in the Gallipoli campaign he was mentioned twice in dispatches and was honourably discharged in 1917.
His grand uncle William Barron who was on board the ship HMS Goliath, which was torpedoed in 1915.
Remembrance
Speaking at the event, Chair of TheKilkenny Great War Memorial Committee Donal Croghan expressed his thanks to all for their attendance.
Mr Croghan said that ANZAC Day was not a glorification of war. “It is a day of remembrance. The symbolism used is deeply rooted in nature and sacrifice. We wear sprigs of Rosemary, which grew wild on the Gallipoli peninsula and has long been a symbol of remembrance.
Here in the South-East, we blend this with our own landscape. We connect the Wattle of Australia, the Silver Fern of New Zealand with the Shamrock of Ireland. We remember soldiers with names like Mulroney, Deevy, and Power—local names that are inscribed on the walls of the Australian War Memorial, and at the Auckland War Memorial Museum”.
Donal paid thanks to the dedicated work of the local committee, remembered on the Memorial and on other memorials around the region.
Mr Croghan concluded his speech by saying that participation in ANZAC actions helps to integrate the Irish communities into broader Australian and New Zealand societies and contributed significantly to the Irish-Australian and Irish- New Zealand identities. The dedication in this region is remarkable. The Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee ensures that the ANZACs from the southeast are not forgotten. Sound was supplied by Ray Brophy.
The following laid wreaths in honour of Anzac Day
Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Mary Hilda Kavanagh, Kilkenny County Council.
Australian Ambassador, Her Excellency. Ms Chantelle Taylor.
New Zealand Ambassador, Her Excellency Ange Hassan-Sharp. And LT Anna Garnett.
Ambassador of Türkiye, Her Excellency, Mrs. Esra Cankorur.
Representative of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, James Stephens Barracks, 2LT Dean Bray.
Representative of Kilkenny Garda Superintendent , Sergeant Balfe.
Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr John Coonan.
Cllr Declan Barry, Waterford County Council
Michael Dempsey on behalf of the Foreign Legion Association of Ireland
Carlow/ Kilkenny Constituency T.D. Jennifer Murnane O Connor.
Association of Disbanded Irish Regiments Alison Hallahan.
Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, Gus Hennessy.
Irish United Nations Veterans Mr. Liam Barry.
Vice chair of the Kilkenny Great War Memorial Committee, John Joe Cullen.
Mr. Edward Carson, in memory of people of Irish descent who served in the ANZAC Forces.
