A book featuring a short introduction to the history of the First World War in Derry has been launched in the County Donegal Museum in Letterkenny.
From left, Eoin Doherty, Pascal Blake (Letterkenny Mayor), Ronan Curran, Fintan O’Flynn and Shannon Crawford ( Choláiste Ailigh, letterkenny) at the launch of “From Home to Foreign Fields.”
The launch of “From Home to Foreign Fields,” which also looks at the conflict in the Strabane, Omagh and Donegal areas, also saw the screening of a number of docu-dramas on the First World War as well as Emigration, the Partition of Ireland, and the Omagh born poet Alice Milligan.
The booklet and short films are all part of the PEACE III funded Plantation to Partition Programme led by Derry City Council’s Heritage & Museum Service in partnership with Strabane District, Omagh District and Donegal County Councils.
Margaret Edwards, project officer with the Heritage and Museum Service of Derry City Council, said the book and short films offered a chance to bring to light the legacy the First World War and other significant events on the North West region.
She added “‘From Home to Foreign Fields” brought to life a number of touching memoirs of local people’s experiences during the Great War, with contributions from local historian Richard Doherty, former Strabane Council member James Emery and Donegal County Museum.
She added: “It also includes stories about how men from all over the North West and Donegal joined up to fight for a variety of reasons. The interest in this has been huge and the booklet provides heartfelt accounts of people from across the region which we can relate to today.”
Copies of the book are available at the Foyle Valley Railway Museum, Foyle Road, Derry BT48 6SQ and the docu-dramas are available to view at http://www.youtube.com/user/alleytheatrestrabane.
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