Project Update: March 2016

The initial phase of the project – the collection of names, and gathering of information – is largely complete.  Thanks to the effort of the project’s volunteers, we have identified over 320+ men from St Patrick’s Parish, Lisburn, that fought in the Great War.   It is unlikely that we will ever have a full picture of the Lisburn volunteers, the lack or records make this almost impossible.  We have, however, filled out the biographies of many of these men, and we now have a rich array of ephemera in the museum: photographs, booklets, medals, pennants, trench art and, perhaps most importantly, stories.

While the initial fact-finding stage of the project has slowed down, we will continue to explore the topic. and collect material relating to these volunteers.  On March 24th 2016 the museum will open its new exhibition ‘Rising Voices: Lisburn at Easter 1916’ featuring much of the material gathered through the project.  The display also explores the history of Lisburn’s battalion of the Irish National Volunteers, whose story emerged from work carried out during the project.

Thanks, again, is due to Pat Geary, Gavin Bamford, Pearse Lawlor and Ted Rooney for their hard work and patience.

Ciaran