Flanders Fields Memorial Unveiled in Dublin

"More than 100 years after the first World War, the government of Flanders has created a lasting memorial in Dublin to the Irish who died in that part of Belgium.
The Flanders Fields Memorial is situated in the peace garden opposite Christchurch cathedral, a largely unused public park owned by Dublin City Council which now has a circular memorial in place to remember the Irish who died in Flanders.
According to the In Flanders Fields museum in Ieper (Ypres), more than 13,000 Irishmen died in Belgium in the first World War.
Almost all of those who died did so in the 13 miles of front in Ypres salient in Flanders.
“Defend Catholic Belgium,” Irishmen were told and so they did. Many more of them died in the defence of Belgium than in the creation of the Irish State.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin Clr Nial Ring reminded those present that the peace garden was opened in 1988 at a time when there was no peace on the island of Ireland.
“People will find great solace and hopefully a time for reflection and reconciliation when they visit this place,” he said.
The circular memorial contains a box full of Flanders soil and a brass plaque remembering the Irish who died there in the war."
www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/dublin-memorial-to-13-000-irishmen-killed-in-ww1-in-flanders-opened-1.3876589?mode=amp&fbclid=IwAR2aArAB7INEXN_XMmcMpZ6ywviDB4685BGxTSl0F9gzOESuNSmNrDRiYX4#.XMi3CeS3et8.facebook

 

Aussies in Flanders...

 

It's good to see that after too many years of neglect Ireland is at last acknowledging the services of the Irish soldiers of both world wars.