Northern Ireland — The Latest

The War Medal

The Irish Census of 1901 and 1911 were the only two complete records to survive, which makes searching for family history far more complicated.

However, it was at this time that I came across my great-grandfather's service records; the first I have been able to locate although perhaps not even the first veteran in our family.

Frederick William Allen enlisted with Royal Irish Dragoon Guards on March 14, 1874. Remarkably, he was just 14 years and 10 months and would become an army trumpeter.

News, ReflectionBrian Wightman5 May 2024ANZAC Day, war medals, WWII, WWI, Egypt, Ireland, Northern Ireland, census

How hard can it be?

The dates of public holidays in Tasmania can be debatable.

But certainly not contentious like a recent call by an Irish Greens MP, Patrick Costello TD, to make the 12th of July an all-Ireland holiday.

Leadership, ReflectionBrian Wightman30 July 2023public holidays, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Saint Patrick's Day, Twelfth of July