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NATIONWIDE

Nationwide Mary Kennedy Anne Cassin Image Name: Nationwide Mary Kennedy Anne Cassin Description: Nationwide presenters Mary Kennedy and Anne Cassin
RTE Nationwide Gerry Moore Image Name: RTE Nationwide Gerry Moore Description: RTÉ Nationwide will broadcast two special programmes this November which focus on a unique project involving a student from every county in Ireland, “adopting” a soldier from his or her county who died in World War 1. Picture features Gerry Moore , history teacher at St Columba’s Comprehensive School in Glenties and founder of the project 'My Adopted Soldier', with his students. TX: Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th November, 7.00pm, RTÉ One.

RTÉ Nationwide special “Writing Irish soldiers back into History”

Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th November at 7.00pm on RTÉ One

RTÉ Nationwide will broadcast two special programmes this November which focus on a unique project involving a secondary school student from every county in Ireland, paying tribute to a soldier from his or her county who died in World War 1.

Guest presenter Eileen Magnier, RTÉ’s North West Correspondent, and cameraman Brian McVeigh followed the students, as they researched their soldier’s story and in some cases found living relatives. They uncovered some intriguing and tragic cases before travelling as a group to the Somme to get an insight into what their soldiers had gone through and to pay their respects at their graves. In many cases it’s believed this was the first time that the soldier’s story had been told and his grave visited.

The project is a unique one according to the man whose idea it was, history teacher Gerry Moore from Glenties in County Donegal. Never before has a group of young people representing each of the 32 counties, paid a tribute like this to Irish men who lost their lives in WW1, young men who were not much older than the students themselves. The lasting legacy of the project is a website telling the story of the individual soldiers as researched by the students and it’s planned to expand the database in the future making it a very valuable resource for schools and anyone with an interest in the involvement of Irish people in World War 1.

The first RTÉ Nationwide programme meets some of the students as they go in search of their soldier’s life story, and those who are working on the website where all research is being uploaded. www.myadoptedsoldier.com. Before the students departed on their trip RTÉ cameras followed them as they visited Áras an Uachtaráin where President Michael D. Higgins congratulated them on helping to “write these soldiers back into Irish history”.

In programme two, Nationwide travel to the Somme with the students for what is a very emotional experience as they get a sense of what life was like in the trenches and pay their respects to their adopted soldiers and also to the thousands of soldiers who have no known graves. The trip had a huge impact on the students and on teacher Gerry Moore who said that in his twenty five years at a teacher, he had never experienced such an emotional roller-coaster.

The two programmes will broadcast in the lead up to and on Remembrance Day (11th November) this year.

 

Nationwide – Friday 13th November, 7.00pm on RTÉ One

On Friday’s Nationwide, the programme features stories of Irishmen who served in military uniform.

Listowel is renowned for its Writers’ Week, its races and its food fair.  But a lesser-known fact is that the town and its hinterland are steeped in military history.  Reporter Marian Malone visits Listowel to find out more about this aspect of its heritage and to join the join the locals as they host a festival to remember all those from North Kerry, who served in army uniform.

The programme also looks at how adjusting to retirement can be difficult for many people, in particular when making the transition from life in the defence forces to civilian life.  Some veterans may miss the order and discipline of military life while others miss the special bond they’ve had with their fellow soldiers particularly those who’ve served in UN missions overseas.  The Defence Forces say they want veterans to continue to feel that they remain part of the family and to this end they’ve set up a new initiative called ‘The Friday Club’ where veterans are invited to come into barracks once a month to meet for a cup of tea and receive information on topical issues that might benefit them.  Reporter Helen McInerney meets with some army veterans and goes along to one of their monthly gatherings.