The 106th anniversary of the death in the First World War of Slane poet Francis Ledwidge was marked on Sunday with an afternoon of poetry and music at his birthplace just outside Slane.
Committee members and friends braved heavy rainy for the ceremony which took place in the garden of the Ledwidge Museum at Janeville.
Opening the ceremony, Francis Ledwidge Museum Chairperson Terry Wogan said that, as always on these occasions, he was struck by the fact that as people stood in the peace and tranquillity of the museum garden with Stanley Hill in the background, that Francis Ledwidge found himself in very different green fields of France and Belgium during the Great War and paid the ultimate sacrifice when he lost his life in Ypres in 1917. “The contrast in surroundings couldn’t be greater”, he said.
“Today, we also remember some dear friends and colleagues who have passed away since we gathered here last year. Just last week saw the passing of Joe Ledwidge, nephew of Francis Ledwidge. Joe took great interest in the museum and attended and indeed provided musical entertainment at many Ledwidge Day events and we remember him today”.
“We also remember Jimmy McComeskey, former Chairperson and Honorary President who passed away last year. He gave a lifetime of service to the museum committee and in recent years he had taken great pride in laying the commemorative wreath at this ceremony. We miss his stories and words of wisdom and he is very much in our thoughts today”.
The chairperson said that the committee was delighted to receive a Meath County Council Civic Award for promoting the works of Francis Ledwidge and the work in preserving the museum building and gardens. This year the museum had welcomed many visitors and hosted a variety of group visits and he thanked the museum guides for their great work and enthusiasm in providing a warm and courteous welcome to visitors. He thanked the assistance of the Meath County Council Arts Office for the commemorative event through the annual Arts Grant scheme.
Music at the event was provided by Paddy Reilly and there were readings by Pat Casey, Balbriggan, a relation of the poet’s mother, Lucy Kennedy, James Doherty and Paul Murphy. A wreath was laid by museum committee President Rosemary Yore and this was followed by a minute’s silence.
