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Cllrs Sam Locke and Mikey Sheehy with, at back, Billy McElligott and Peter Locke, laying wreaths at the monument in Ballymullen on Sunday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
WREATHS were laid on Sunday morning at the monument in Ballymullen to remember all those from Tralee who died serving in wars.
Organised by Cllr Sam Locke to coincide with Remembrance Sunday, the occasion was also a chance to remember the members of the Defence Forces who lost their lives in the Niemba Ambush in the Congo while serving with UNUC in 1960.
“This being Remembrance Sunday, it’s important to remember all those from Tralee who gave their lives in World Wars and those in the Defence Forces who died in the Congo. But for their sacrifice we would be living in a different country today,” said Cllr Locke.
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Cllr Locke also remembered his granduncle Albert who died during World War 1 in Gallipoli. He was joined in the wreathlaying ceremony by Cllr Mikey Sheehy, Peter Locke and Billy McElligott.
This past week also marked the 100th anniversary of the Siege of Tralee during the War of Independence which made headlines all around the world.
Cllr Cathal Foley of Sinn Féin asked the Council at last week’s Tralee Municipal District if any plans were in place to commemorate the event in town.
He was told that no individual commemorative events would be taking place but information on the event was being gathered and would soon be available to view online via the Kerry Library social media pages.
Is that not a specific monument to The Royal Munster Fusiliers in the Republic of Ireland who died serving as Loyal British Crown Forces.
There is a historical conflict of interest for any Irish Republican to commemorate in essence a foreign controlled occupying military force, loyal to a British Crown and Act of Union, if necessary this force could have been used to violently suppress an Irish Republic if ordered?
It says a lot about the state of the Republic of Ireland today that there is no monument to the Defence Forces of Ireland who lost their lives in the Niemba Ambush in the Congo while serving with UNUC in 1960!
Confused.