Removal of war memorial is disrespectful

The council's plans to relocate the monument to the 500 Offaly men who died in the First World War is disrespectful to their memory, a local historian has said.

Last week, the council revealed that as part of its plans to enchance O'Connor under the the Town Enchancement Scheme it proposes to relocate the memorial to the Town Park.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent, historian Michael Byrne said that Offaly Historical Society has written to the council expressing its opposition to the relocation of the monument, which was erected in 1926.

“We would like to see the monument retained in the square. We would not like to see it removed to the Town Park as we see it as a case of out of mind out of sight.

“We think that we should respect the dead of the First World War. Over 100 Tullamore men died and at least 500 from throughout Offaly, while about 3,000 fought in the war.

“While some might have fought for an imperial dream a lot of others fought because they needed to work and put bread on the table. A lot of the people that died were poor and they shouldn't be forgotten in the narrative of the war.

“We have made a representation to the chief executive of the council about this and hope to have a petition signed by as many people as possible to have the memorial retained in the square,” he pointed out.

Cllr Tommy McKeigue is another who believes that the monument should be remain the square. He told the Offaly Independent that there is growing opposition to the proposed relocation.

“I don't think it should be moved. It's part and parcel of Tullamore. The stone came from Molloy's Quary and it's a lovely monument that has been there for nearly 100 years.”