I attended the event and I believe it went way beyond simply honouring the Irish who perished in the First World War.

I cried for my son at remembrance concert 19/11/2008

I attended the event and I believe it went way beyond simply honouring the Irish who perished in the First World War.

Tears were brought to my eyes as poetry was read — poetry that had an anti-war sentiment to it. Anti any war — not just the Great War.

The tears were for my son, US Marine Sgt Matthew Fenton, who died from injuries suffered in Iraq two-and-a-half years ago. Many times during the evening it was mentioned that the concert was for all who died in any war.

The biggest fear I have is that my son will be forgotten, but perhaps with events like the one organised by Lord Mayor Brian Bermingham, I can relax.

I saw no celebration of the British army, but an attempt to remember some poor forgotten souls. And that their deaths were wasted, as history has shown. As the song aptly puts it, “man’s blind indifference to his fellow man”.

John Fenton
Church Bay
Crosshaven
Co Cork 

Memorial concert in a grown-up republic 17/11/2008

Having attended the memorial concert at Cork’s City Hall last Saturday I went to express my gratitude for a wonderful evening. Played to a packed house, this proved to me how far we have come as a nation, and what a wonderful lord mayor Cork has in Cllr Brian Bermingham.

To those who would not honour the men who made such a sacrifice back then I would say there are few houses in Cork not affected by the First World War. The lord mayor took the brave step to honour them on this 90th anniversary.

This in a way was as monumental as Barack Obama’s victory in the US. I came away with the impression we were finally turning into a republic, having grown up as a nation, and I say to everyone involved with the concert — well done, and please let’s have more events like this in Cork.

Larry Dineen
‘Oakridge’
Hillview Drive
Commons Road
Cork