Armistice Day Remembrance/ Navan Library 2013

Armistice Day Ceremony Navan Library 2013.

The Remembrance Day ceremony was led off by prayers and the laying of a wreath followed by a recitation of John McCrae's poem "In Flanders Fields" finishing off with a slide show and photographs of some of those who enlisted from the Navan area. This was on Tuesday last as there was some delay due to difficulties or other. I was at this event last year as well and managed to record a playing of the last post then which is back somewhere on the blog site and worth a listen, bur camera not at the ready this year. This event seems to be growing in numbers each year and I believe a major event to mark the centenary is planned for next year. Out here in the sticks though it wouldn't have been mentioned much over the years except  perhaps for those who maybe watched it on the B.B.C  A more familiar conflict would date back even further than that and the only war memorial to it is to the west of the old church at Tara though the inscription is long since faded. I can remember an old photograph of the unveiling of it and if I remember right Eamon De Valera was there as well as Fr. Cooney of Skryne. This was in 1948 I think, which was the 150th anniversary of  the Croppies. Not so very long ago people would point out to you where a grave was supposed to be or a skirmish had taken place. But memory plays tricks. Another conflict that holds just as strong in the local memory would have to be the war of Independence and the common thread between the two is the number of ballads that were written and are still sung today. I can remember a travelling show coming to the parish (Harry Martin ?) and the events of 1916 were played out to some effect, and to finish there's a poem out there by Pat Boran about the Irish between wars, have to look it up! Enough rambling. It's another Woodstock we need.