Above is a photograph of a WW1 diagram taken at the Royal Irish Fusilier museum in Armagh. I popped in with my son and nephew, after visiting the planetarium. The staff were wonderful and the venue passed an enjoyable hour as we viewed the collection, which contains the uniforms, medals, regalia and the two Victoria Crosses won by the Regiment.The two kids particularly enjoyed the opportunity to try on some modern day British military gear.
Last month I had the opportunity to attend an evening preview of the new galleries at Enniskillen Museum. Four new galleries have been created the Fermanagh Lakelands Gallery 1 and 2; the Our Town Gallery; and the Full Circle Art Gallery. What had once been an old health centre has been transformed into an impressive Visitor Centre. The centre includes a cafe and shop on the ground floor; a genealogy centre; a castle viewing area; and a history hub, providing access to the museum’s photographic, oral and digital film archives. I have included a few photographs taken while on the tour. The highlights for me were a digital display of my grandfathers homestead, a building I played in as a young child, and a number of items from the collection of Johnny McKeagney a local folklorist and historian, now sadly deceased. The museum is a must visit for locals and visitors to the county.
The sloped wall of the ammunition magazine, slopped inwards to contain any accidental explosion.
Crannog.
Door of Enniskillen goal.
Stone sculpture.
A view from the castle walls over looking Lough Erne.
Napoleon is reputed to have commented: “That regiment with castles on their caps composes of the most obstinate mules I ever saw; they don’t know when they are beaten.” The Duke of Wellington paid tribute to the ‘Skins’ saying: “They saved the centre of my line at Waterloo.”
I recorded the short video above of the "27th Regiment of Foot" an Irish Arms re-enactment group.The video was taken at Enniskillen Castle Museum while attending "A Salute to Waterloo - Honouring the Inniskillings". The occasion was the flagship commemorative event by the Inniskillings Museum for the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and honoured the pivotal role of both the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoon Guards at this epic battle which marked a turning point in European history.
27th Regiment of Foot.
While there I was also lucky enough to attend a short lecture by the excellent Peter Molloy entitled "Two Enniskillen Regiments at Waterloo". Peter detailed the role played by the 7th Regiment of Foot and the 6th Dragoon Guards at the famous battle. He brought to life the events and the horrors faced by these fellow Irishmen almost two hundred years ago.
Private McMullen being helped from the field.
The scene above shows Private McMullen who came from a weaving background in Downpatrick. He was seriously
wounded after coming under French cannon fire at Waterloo. His heavily pregnant wife Elizabeth was with other wives nearby and fearing
her husband dead she dashed into the midst of the bodies. She was hit on the leg with a musket ball but discovered her husband still
alive and managed to drag him to the edge of the battlefield. Private McMullen lost
both arms because of his injuries.The then Duke of York was told of their bravery and in a personal visit to
them in hospital in Chelsea he agreed to be godfather to the infant, who was
christened Frederica McMullen of Waterloo.
Elizabeth goes to the aid of her husband.
9 Pounder cannon.
The Allies had 127 cannon at Waterloo.
It was a wonderful Saturday afternoon spent wandering the various galleries and castle grounds with my son and his friend. Well worth a visit if you ever find yourself in the Erne county and Enniskillen.
Hello from Deutschland and Zirndorf. I stumbled across the small Zirndorf museum on my holidays and took a few snaps. The exhibits on the upper floor of the museum refer to a historic event in Zirndorf during the war from 1618 -1648 which involved countries from many parts of Europe. There was a battle fought near the Alte Vesta, a ruined castle in Zirndorf, commander-in-chief Albrecht von Wallenstein had built up a huge camp around the Alte Veste and was attacked by Gustav II of Sweden.
This chapter of Frankonian military history is illustrated at the museum by contemporary reports about life in the camp. The display also provides a detailed description of the course of the battle and the fate of the soldiers and the civilian population.
Highlight of the exhibition was a diorama, shown above, which details a military camp from the period using flat miniatures. The creator spent 20 years producing this wonderful piece. Do visit if you ever find yourself in Zirndorf.
My family and I visited Enniskillen Castle museum this weekend. The photos above shown the castle itself. These images have come to be associated with county Fermanagh. Indeed the local gaelic football team wear an image of the castle on their jerseys.
I have included a number of images taken on our day out to give you an idea of what can be seen at the castle.
This is a vista from one of the battlements looking down the Erne. The town of Enniskillen was originally founded on an island in the Erne and has by now expanded well beyond its confines.
A photograph taken in the Crimea display section.
The good old Jeep, work horse of the Allies.
A German 77mm light artillery gun captured in Belgium in 1918 by men of the Innskillings.
Bren Carrier.
This Bren Gun Carrier was used by the Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and Inniskilling Fusiliers 1939-1960 for reconnaissance and resupply in Burma, Sicily, Italy and Northwest Europe.
So if ever you find you self in this part of the world, the Enniskillen Castle museum is well worth a visit.
