Gavin is a transition year student in Abbey Community College, Ferrybank, Co. Kilkenny. As part of a project surveying a nearby graveyard the class were introduced to simple methods for family history research and publication. Using his own initiative he then interviewed his gran and his dad and has started a folder of notes. Here Gavin introduces the story of his six relatives who served in World War 1.
‘I found out last night that 6 of my relations were in World War 1. Two of my great-grandfathers and four of my great-granduncles.
Gavin then shows his family tree ‘This is my great grandfather, Martin Morrissey, Patrick Doherty and Tom Doherty, Patrick unfortunately died in World War 1. In the Somme.
Patrick was a brother-in-law to my great-grandfather Martin Morrissey. Martin had warned Patrick not to join that regiment, the Irish Guards machine-gunners because they were the main target for the Germans with mortars. So, they just took them out the minute they saw them.
Of the six who joined up five lived on. Unfortunately Patrick didn’t.’
Gavin obviously is gripped by this family history and he is keen to continue his research - hopefully he will record more family research for us.
This video was recorded during a chat with John Tierney as part of a project funded by Kilkenny Leader Partnership.