Choir remembers Kilkenny’s fallen sons at war memorial

There were poignant scenes on the outskirts of the village of Herlies in Northern France recently when a Kilkenny contingent visited a war memorial site and remembered those who lost their lives during the first World War.

Seán O’Neill from Kilkenny City organised the trip along with his nephew John Britton and proudly wore medals belonging to his cousin, George Hayden from Urlingfield, who was killed in the Battle of Passichendale in 1917. The invitation to visit the area was extended back at the unveiling of Kilkenny’s war memorial in 2018 by a French delegation from Lille who attended the event.

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“A group from Lille, including some members of the choir Ad Libitum were over for the unveiling of the war memorial in Kilkenny and the Unity Singers performed at the event and they invited us to come over,” explained Chairman of the Unity Singers, Declan McCann.

Covid intervened and plans were delayed but post pandemic the invitation was re-issued and a group of 44 comprising of members of the Unity Singers and friends jumped at the opportunity to visit the war memorial at the site of the Battle of Le Pilly.

Between October 19 and 21 1914, 177 men from the 2nd Royal Irish Regiment, including several men from Kilkenny, were slaughtered at Le Pilly outside Lille during what was known as the Race to the Sea. In 2018, 104 years after the battle, the people of Herlies unveiled a memorial to commemorate the battle.

Two wreaths were laid by the Kilkenny group at the memorial site, which is on the edge of the village of Herlies.

“There was an incredible turnout and they read an account of the battle both in English and French and the World War 1 song It’s a Long Way to Tipperary was also sung,” said Mr O’Neill.

Local children were present at the site along with local dignitaries to welcome the Kilkenny group.

“There was great respect among the locals for the battlesite and an appreciation of the ultimate sacrifice that was made by many,” added Declan McCann.

Other highlights of the trip including performing in a market place in Lille and also in an old Anglican Church alongside the Ad Libitum choir who showed great hospitality to their Irish visitors. The group also spent time in Arras and explored the ‘Boves’, a series of tunnels, which were used by some 24,000 Commonwealth soldiers ahead of the first attack launching the famous Battle of Arras on 9 April 1917

During most of the First World War, Arras was about 10 kilometres away from the front line, and a series of battles took place around the city and nearby, including the Battle of Arras (1914), the Battle of Arras (1917) and the Second Battle of the Somme component of 1918's Hundred Days Offensive.

In 1917, a series of medieval tunnels beneath the city, linked and greatly expanded by the New Zealand Tunnelling Company, became a decisive factor in the British forces holding the city - particularly during that year’s Battle of Arras. The Irish contingent also spent time at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial which is dedicated to the Battle of Vimy Ridge assault.

Plans are already underway to host the Ab Libitum choir from Lille who are hoping to pay a visit to the Marble City in 2025.