As part of READiscover Your Library month, a talk will take place in the Aidan Heavey Public Library, Athlone on ‘Researching your Relatives in the British Army’ (World War I and World War II ) on Tuesday March 29 starting at 7.30pm. Admission is free but places for this talk are limited so advance booking is essential.
The lecturer is Neil Richardson who studied philosophy in University College Dublin and works as a creative writing teacher and editor. He is also a playwright and two of his plays, Through the Dark Clouds Shining and From the Shannon to the Somme, which showed in Athlone Little Theatre last year, are inspired by World War I.
Neil is the author of the acclaimed book A Coward If I Return, A Hero If I Fall: Stories of Irishmen in WW1, published last year. Neil is also a member of the Reserve Defence Forces and his family have a long military tradition stretching back over 150 years. The story of Neil’s great-grandfather, Martin Gaffey, who hailed from Athlone, inspired him to write his book on Irish WWI soldiers.
Neil Richardson is currently researching a second book which will contain the stories of Irishmen in World War II.
If you are interested in learning more about Irish involvement in WWI or researching the lives of your ancestors who fought with the British army this is an opportunity not to be missed. To book your place please call to the library in Athlone Civic Centre or phone (090 ) 6442157.
