Slane poet Ledwidge remembered on 103rd anniversary of his death

Slane poet Francis Ledwidge was commemorated in a simple ceremony at his home place at Janeville on the 103rd anniversary of his death yesterday.

Ledwidge was killed by a shell burst in Belgium along with five soldier companions in the First World War.

James McComeskey, President of the Francis Ledwidge Museum Committee who laid a wreath at the memorial to the poet at his home place near Slane on the 103rd anniversary of his death yesterday.

It had been the practice of the Francis Ledwidge Museum Committee to hold an annual  commemorative event on the nearest Sunday to his death and this was attended by up to 200 people.

However, because of Covid-19 restrictions this year's event was scaled down and just 15 people gathered in his memory in the garden of his old home near the village.

The museum committee Chairperson Terry Wogan said that he was struck as he stood in the peace and tranquility of the garden that Francis Ledwidge himself found himself in very different green fields of France and Belgium during the Great War and paid the ultimate sacrifice when losing his life near Ypres  in 1917. The contrast in surroundings couldn't be greater, he said.

James Doherty reading the poem "Home" at the Ledwidge commemoration today.

Museum President Jimmy McComeskey laid a wreath at the memorial to the poet in the garden. Committee members read poems from Ledwidge's works and violinist Paddy Reilly played Irish tunes at the event.