Irish Veterans Historical Research Centre Ltd
The Irish Veterans Historical Research Centre is Ireland's only registered charity dedicated to establishing and maintaining a memorial dedicated to all Irish men and women who served, and in particular those who made the ultimate sacrifice, in foreign military forces from 1900 to the present day.
Those who served, and those who lost their lives, came from all corners of the Four Historic Provinces of the island of Ireland. Such service, however, remains largely unknown or ignored.
In November 1998, following discussions between Declan Hughes, the instigator of the search for the Irish who lost their lives in Vietnam, and Vicki Curtin, of the Irish Immigration Centre in Washington DC, a wreath was laid at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC, in specific remembrance of the Irish-born killed in Vietnam – the first time ever such recognition had been paid.
In April and May 1999, in a tour organised by Declan Hughes and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (Washington DC), the replica Vietnam Memorial visited the four historic provinces of Ireland to honour all who served and died in that war. With both Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD, and President of Ireland Mary McAleese visiting the Memorial, the Irish State recognised for the first time the common island heritage of these men and women.
For the Irish who served abroad in theatres of conflict throughout the last century, such as WWI, WWII, Malaya, Borneo, Korea, Vietnam, The Gulf and many others, few details exist regarding their service, to say nothing of acknowledgements of their courage.
Information on Irish women who served is practically non-existent.
A site has been identified near the geographical centre of Ireland where a suitable memorial will be erected, along with a History, Research and Exhibition Centre. The site is the disused 19th Claremont House, sitting on 12 acres. Presently owned by Roscommon County Council, we are in discussion with the County Manager about restoring the site as an Irish Veterans Historic Exhibition and Research Centre.
Irish Veterans Historical Research Centre Ltd
is delighted to have the advice and services of well-known Architect Brian O’Carroll, of O’Carroll Associates, Roscommon, who will be overseeing the renovation process.
Visit Brian’s Architectural Practice HERE - www.oca.ie.
The geographic centre of the island of Ireland was chosen for several reasons:
symbolically, to represent the fact that Irish men and women served from every county in every province on the island
to better facilitate visitors from all parts of Ireland
to ensure, from the outset, decentralisation of an important national initiative