Remembering our War dead in Westport

11/8/2001 -

To mark annual Remembrance Day for those who died in World War 1, in World War 2 and on United Nations duty and in conflict in Ireland, mass will be celebrated in Saint Mary's Church in Westport on Saturday, November 10.
Following the mass an exhibition on the theme of World War 1 will be opened in Westport library at 8.30 pm on Saturday evening. Material for this exhibition is being provided by P. J. Clarke, Ballina, and by Westport Historical Society. The exhibition will be launched by P. J. Duffy of the Historical Society.
Similar exhibitions were mounted at the time of Remembrance Day celebrations in Castlebar and Ballina in previous years and attracted a great deal of attention. The exhibition will be open to the public throughout the following week during library hours.
Approximately 200,000 Irishmen served in World War 1 and over 60,000 perished in the conflict. A national committee has been formed to honour those who died.
The project director is Mrs Norma McDermott of An Comhairle Leabharlanna. Local input is being co-ordinated by Mayo Co. Library.
It is planned to compile a list for each town and district in Ireland and to publish a book containing the names of the soldiers.
A list for County Mayo has been provided by the War Graves Commission but it is not a complete record. Anyone wishing to inspect the list can do so at any library in the county.
Michael Feeney, Castlebar, and P. J. Clarke, Ballina, have been researching the Mayo soldiers for some time and have compiled lists of names from several parts of County Mayo. The local newspapers of the period, which are available at Castlebar Library, have been very useful source.
Persons who wish to submit names of relatives or local people who were killed in WW1 can contact any of the following: P. J. Clarke, Amana Estate, Ballina, Tel, 096-22195 (after 6 pm.), Michael Feeney, Milebush, Castlebar, 094-22562 (after 6 pm.) or Ivor Hamrock, Castlebar Library, 094-20237.