Trenches in kilworth

Interesting, pity it can't be developed more, it might have been a good historic tourist site.

Uncle Ben wrote: »

Used to go there with the FCA almost 30 years ago. Is the Blue Dragon pub still there. I think that was the name of it.

Blue Dragon name is gone since the mid 90s, became the Corbet Court at some stage IIRC. There was another pub a short distance the other way from the barracks towards Mitchelstown.

Uncle Ben wrote: »

Used to go there with the FCA almost 30 years ago.

Many moons ago I was there in an FCA summer camp for 2 weeks. We used to walk in to Mitchelstown most evenings. Did a lot of shooting there over the years. Would be nice to visit there again if it was a tourist attraction with the WW1 trenches.

Uncle Ben wrote: »

Happy days with me Lee Enfield!!

I was a little later, had the FN from the day I joined

A Visit to Kilworth & Fermoy Camps.

A

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gentleman supplies us with the following very interesting item;--
Last week I paid a visit to Kilworth Camp, County Cork, to see some friends in the Irish Brigade. Kilworth is a hill country district, studded over with huts in connection with the Camp. These are largely of galvanised material, sheeted inside, the floors being concrete and the roofs also galvanised. At Kilworth the greater portion of the Irish Brigade are at present in training. The ground, after the recent wet weather, was in a very heavy condition, and, indeed, the mud and slush generally around the huts reminded me very forcibly of

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Fair Green in bad weather. On my way through the Camp to look up my friends, I encountered a stout burly sergeant, who gave me the salute, and, to my surprise, greeted me by name. I said to him; “How do you know me? And he promptly rang out the reply, ‘I’m from

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’.” He then informed me that he was Sergeant Kiernan, and a native of

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. He escorted me through the Camp, and I confess that as I went my feet felt as if a hundred weight each. But amid all the mud and mire, what most struck me was the fine, healthy looks, soldier-like bearing, and cheerful aspect of all the boys. Outside the Cadets Camp I met Private Thomas O’Neill (a brother of Mr Joseph O’Neill, J.P., Chairman of the

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District Council), who, with others, was preparing for a cross-country race. He said he had never felt so well in his life, and was delighted with his surroundings, and, in particular, with his training. I was then taken into the Camp, where I met Lance Corporal Daniel Flood, (son of Mr Daniel Flood, J.P., Co C.,

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). Private Garrahan, Longford, Private McSweeney, Wicklow, and , indeed, was introduced also to Privates from all parts of Ireland. I must say, I never met a more hearty, genial, or healthy looking set of men, who all seemed to be genuine pals. Before leaving I mentioned, for banter sake, to one fine fellow, a private, that I had heard they were soon to be sent out to the front. He replied—“We don’t care a jot how soon it is, so long as we get a chance to have a crack at a German.” I also met Colonel Wood, who is Commander of the Company at Kilworth, and in charge of the training operations. He was most civil and gentlemanly, and spoke in terms of the highest praise of the men. I left Kilworth with a feeling of regret that years debarred me from taking my stand with the fine boys I had seen, for our country’s weal. Captain Wm Redmond, M.P.
My next visit was to the new barracks at Fermoy, where another section of the Irish Brigade is located. Here I met Captain William Redmond, M.P., brother of the Irish Leader. He was in his office, and was very busy. He was in full uniform, and had all the appearance of a veteran who had been through many campaigns, and to look at and observe him, one could scarcely be made believe that he was not all his life a man in military command. I had about half an hour’s interesting conversation with Captain Redmond. His office, I may mention is in the top storey of the building, and is reached by a staircase of winding description, and scrubbed white. The office is spacious, and nicely white washed. There is no furniture in it, except a deal table and three wooden chairs, and there is no carpet on the floor. I said to Captain Redmond that Ireland owed him a great deal for his plucky action. He said;-- “I could not do less; it was up to me to do it. Remember”, he continued, “I’m not here for recruiting purposes, but because I consider every Irishman who can be spared should be here at present. As it is, Ireland has responded nobly. I shall get through all my training all right, and it means hard work, I assure you. But I’m not here as an ornament. Should the Irish Brigade have to go to the front, I shall go as leader of my company, and any risks and hardships that are undertaken by my men will also be undertaken by me, as their leader. I shall shelve nothing. Ireland’s opportunity has come to prove to the world that her sons can be trusted, and that their chivalry, and bravery are the real living forces to-day, as in the past history of our race. What strikes and stirs me most is to see how well these poor fellows—labourers and small farmers—have responded when compared with the middle class.”
Irish Leader’s Brother Gives Interesting Particulars.
“ I suppose” continued Captain Redmond, smiling, “some people think I am here to make a fortune.” “That is not so,” I replied “Everyone admires you for your unselfish action, and, believe me, it is universally appreciated.” “ As a matter of fact,” said Captain Redmond, “the pay which I am supposed to receive is to be deducted from my allowance of £400 a year as a Parliamentary representative. Since I came here, indeed, I have not spent one cent from the army, and the uniform I am at present wearing cost over £70, Oh, yes,” he added, with his characteristic smile, “When I spoke of not seeing any Army money since I came here, I should have told you there was one exception, namely, when, yesterday, I got a cheque to have cashed at the bank and pay the men. The weight of the bag of silver, I may tell you, had the shoulder nearly cut off me,” he added, laughing.
Good Food and Fish for Catholics on Fast Days.
Referring to the routine of the place, the Captain said he was up each morning at six o’clock, training with the men, The food supply was of the very best, he said, and on all fast days fish was provided for the Catholics. I said—“You must feel the change very much from you comfortable home to this place and your present surroundings.
Then and Now—But in the Same Cause.
“It certainly is a change,” he said, “but I enjoy it. Every time I look out and see the men parading brings back to my mine the parading of my fellow prisoners in my jail experiences. To-day, my position is changed, but I am now, as I then was, fighting, though in another way, for the cause of my country.”
I parted from Captain Redmond with a hearty hand shake, and filled with the feeling that I passed from the presence of a man with a great purpose and patriotic motive—one of whom Ireland should feel proud, and who was possessed of rare determination of character, and at the same time was the soul of good humour and Irish wit.
General Parsons—The Brigade’s Headquarters.
I next went to Mallow, the headquarters of the Irish Brigade, which is in the charge of General Parsons, on whom I called. He is in charge of the 16th Ulster Division (Irish Brigade). I met him at his private residence, where he has been confined owing to throat trouble. Notwithstanding the inconvenience which it caused him to speak, this genial and kindly gentleman pressed me to remain some time, and went whole heartedly into the subject of the Irish Brigade. His ambition is to have it wholly Irish in every respect, officered and commanded by Irishmen. He mentioned that some of the regiments, notably the Inniskillings, Connaught Rangers, Dublin Fusiliers, and Munsters were over manned, but there was a big shortage of the Leinsters. I suggested to the General that the overflow from the first mentioned regiments might be induced to join the Leinsters, but he said the recruits from each province wished to be put into regiments of their own choice. I asked him if many of the recruits had received commissions, and he said a great number had received them, and that he would see that the commissions were given on merit only, and irrespective of class or creed. Taking the whole experience of my visit into account, they were most interesting and satisfactory, and after parting with the good and hospitable General, I felt that we are a length on the eve of a happy and united Ireland.