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Remembering Irish Soldiers Lost in WWI

From Vol. I of Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-1918

The manuscript note above is written on the first page of the Heritage Collections Vol. I of Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-1918. A bold statement considering it is written on a book containing the names of numerous fallen soldiers of the First World War.

The Heritage Collections holds a full set, consisting of 8 volumes, of these memorial records. One of the few that still exists today. A number of volumes recently under went conservation work and have now been fully restored. These volumes record and preserve over 49,000 names of Irishmen who lost their lives fighting in World War I.

Foreword from Vol. I of Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-1918 

The Committee of the Irish National War Memorial compiled and published these volumes in 1923. Each volume is richly illustrated by the delicate brush of Irish artist Harry Clarke. Clarke's stained glass and illustrations were always tinged with sorrow. An element that he brings to the illustrations in these volumes.

Title page from Vol. I of Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-1918 
Page with detail from Vol. I of Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-1918 
Page with detail from Vol. I of Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-1918 
Detail of Harry Clarke's illustrations
Detail of Harry Clarke's illustrations


The information captured in these records is immense and irreplaceable. Each name is accompanied by their regiment number, rank, regiment name, place and date of death and place and date of birth. These memorial records are a beautiful, unique but poignant reminder of the how wars, historic or modern, rob families of those they love dearest.

- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy