Australian and New Zealand National Day of Remembrance commemorated in Kilkenny

A report from the Kilkenny Observer Newspaper at the Peace Park in Kilkenny

In the early 19th century one of the accepted rules of purchase at Tea Auctions was that buyers could place bids until the level of the candle reached as far down as the pin, at which stage the pin would fall out.

If there were no more bids at this stage, the room would be silent and you would be able to hear a pin drop.

Hence this English idiom was born!

And so it was on Sunday April 23 when dignitaries, invited guest and members of the public gathered at e Peace Park in Kilkenny to honour soldiers from Australia and New Zealand who served and died in all wars, con icts and peacekeeping operations.

Following the ‘Ode of Remembrance’ (read in English by Bobby Kearney and in Maori by Robert Brown) a minutes silence was called. is in turn was followed by e Last Post, Reveille, and then the national anthems of Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.

Army personnel, members of the Gardaí and Fire service took the salute as Charlie Parsons played each anthem on the trumpet. Anzac day was remembered with the dignity and respect it deserved. e Kilkenny Great War Memorial committee can take a well-deserved bow.

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New e Ode of Remembrance in English and Maori ey shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, We remember them. e 25th of April 2023 marks the 108th anniversary of the Australian and New Zealand landings at Gallipoli (now known as ANZAC cove). e sacri ce made by both countries during the eight-month long Gallipoli campaign quickly began to symbolize the emergence of their national identity. is identity exempli ed by ANZAC day, e National Day of Remembrance in Australia, and New Zealand. e Kilkenny Great War

Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, con icts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and su ering of all those who have served".

Memorial stands testament to over 830 men and women who paid the ultimate sacrice during the Great War.

Included on its panels the names of 20 ANZAC soldiers and one nurse (Kathleen Power), all who were from Co Kilkenny.

Surnames like, Mulroney, Deevy, Dunphy, Doyle, Butler, Purcell, Leahy, Power, and Langton all bear testament to Kilkenny roots. Parish of origin include St Johns, Clara, Paulstown, Graignamanagh, Callan, Freshford and Aghavillar to name but a few.

Each year, on April 25 Australians and New Zealanders come together to honour their people who served and died in all wars, con icts, and peacekeeping operations. e Kilkenny Great war memorial stands testament to eight hundred and thirty men and women who paid the ultimate sacri ce during the Great War. Included on its panels are the names of Anzac soldiers and one

ANZAC stands for “Australian and New Zealand Army Corps” and is one of the most important national celebrations across Australia and New Zealand.

123 people from Kilkenny served in the Anzac forces. Twenty-two soldiers and one nurse died.