One of Solihull’s longest serving councillors is calling for greater recognition for Irish people who gave their lives in the wars while serving with British forces.
Jim Ryan, of Hampton-in-Arden is making the call after being inspired by a fellow Tipperary man, who has dedicated himself tirelessly to the upkeep of a war memorial in his local town.
Johnny O’Brien, aged 86, has spent the last 18 years tending the war memorial in Cahir, paying for its upkeep himself, and at times even having to endure the hostility of those who opposed what he was doing.
Recently Mr O’Brien, who fought alongside the Ghurkas in the Far East in World War Two and whose father fought in the fields of Flanders in World War One, has seen his efforts rewarded with a grant and a plaque from the Heritage Council of Ireland.
Councillor Ryan, an independent councillor for the Bickenhill ward, said he felt he had to visit Mr O’Brien during a recent trip to Ireland after hearing about what he did.
“I read the story in the local paper about this chap who had received a certain amount of abuse for looking after the war memorial in Cahir and he stood up against it,” said Councillor Ryan.
“At times he was standing alone in doing this and also standing up to criticism. He was even jostled from time to time by a small minority who thought he was wrong and there were some threats made against him.
“I just wanted to go along and shake his hand and say he had support. When I was there this man broke down and cried and said if people can take the time to come and support him, like I did, then what he is doing must be right.”
“He spends 8oo Euros a year out of his own pocket on it and I felt compelled to meet him.
“Here is someone who has dedicated all those years of his life looking after a war memorial because he felt it was right and proper to do it. He felt that local people who died in all the wars from the Boer and Crimean Wars, through World War One and World War Two from that community should be honoured. They gave their lives to fight a war that they believed to be right.”
Councillor Ryan said the Cahir memorial goes back to the Crimean War as the area was closely connected with the 19th century conflict, with many men from the area going to fight and a large training camp based there. It was also famed for breeding horses for the cavalry and one famous horse from the area known as Crimean Bob was involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade.
“The history of that area has got a lot to do with the British forces,” added Cllr Ryan.
“It was only natural that local people would join and many paid the ultimate price.”
Councillor Ryan now feels more should be done to remember the Irish people who gave their lives in the Great War and other conflicts.
He feels there are many other war memorials in other towns in Ireland and efforts should be made to ensure they are properly looked after in memory of those they are dedicated to.
“There are people in other counties too looking after war memorials and getting very little support. People like Mr O’Brien should be supported by people in Ireland and also the services here in Britain.
“Those people who died deserve to be honoured. For decades they were forgotten but Ireland is becoming more enlightened now and freeing itself of the shackles of the past so people can show their appreciation of what those people did.”