One hundred years after the start of the First World War, it is appropriate to remember those who gave their lives in that conflict. In particular we remember the young men of Killybegs who died far from home:

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John Boyle, Private. Johnny and his twin sister Lizzie were the youngest children of Condy and Kate Boyle, (nee Murrin), Stragar North. He also had a sister, Catherine, three brothers, Condy, James and
Hugh, and four other siblings. No. 65815. 13th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Died 3rd October 1917. Age
26.

Thomas Chesnutt, Private, son of Thomas and Annie Chesnutt, (nee Morrow, daughter of George Morrow, Scotties’ Hill, Killybegs), The Green, Killybegs. Thomas had five sisters: Margaret, Annie, Cassie, Aggie and Mary. No. 14147. 11^th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Killed at the Battle of the Somme, 1^st July 1916. Age 21. Interred St John’s graveyard, Killybegs. Private Thomas’s father was skipper of a smack at Killybegs and a son of Moses Chesnutt of Roxboro, Kilcar.

John Conaghan, Private, Killybegs. 15875. 5^th Battalion, Princess Victoria’s Royal Irish Fusiliers. Lived Maryhill, Glasgow, and enlisted there. Killed in action, Gallipoli. This Conaghan family was originally from Largymore, in the parish of Kilcar.

Andrew Elliott, son of John and Elizabeth Anne Elliott (nee Cassidy), Aghayeevoge, and brother of Charles, Anne Maria, John James, Thomas, William and Robert. 11205. 2^nd Battalion, Irish Guards. Killed in action 7^th March 1917. Age 20. Interred Sailly-Saillisel British cemetery, France. V.I.3.

Alexander Hamilton. Bo’sun. Son of Alexander and Isabella (nee Given) Coastguard Station. Born Killybegs 12^th October 1881. Brother of Robert John and Sydney. Served on SS Royal Edward, Toronto Mercantile Marine. Presumed drowned, age 33, on 13^th August 1915. Tower Hill Memorial, London. Alexander’s father had retired from HM cutter Victoria and joined the Coastguards at Killybegs.

Patrick Hegarty, Private, son of James and Anne, Granhey, and brother of Anne, John James and Mary Ellen. 5948. Enlisted Glasgow. Died 3^rd September 1916. Age 26. His brother John was a crewman on the Nobby Emerald II in 1907, and on the Catch Me If You Can in 1910, fishing out of Killybegs.

Bernard Keeney, Sergeant, son of Patrick and Margaret Keeney, Granhey. uncle of Annie Harvey, and the late Paddy Keeney. 11966. 2^nd Battalion, Scots Guards. Killed in action, 7^th April 1918. Age 30. Interred Bailleulmont Communal cemetery, Pas de Calais. C.3.

Stanely May, Leading Seaman, H.M.S. Gossamer. Son of John and Mary May, Killybegs. Husband of Bridget (nee McNelis), Bridge Street, Killybegs (Bridget was a grand-aunt of Terry Lee, Kilcar). J/2794. Drowned 20^th March 1918. Age 26. Interred Oban Pennyfuir cemetery, Argyllshire. No. O.182. It was reported that Stanley was the only man drowned from the Gossamer.

Patrick Murrin, Private. Son of John and Anne Murrin (nee McIntyre), New Row, Killybegs, and an uncle of Joey Murrin. Brother of Maryanne, John, Charles, James and Joseph. Paddy was a prominent player with Killybegs Emeralds AFC. Prior to enlisting in the Army he worked as a Porter at the Railway Station where his brother Jim was also employed. Paddy walked to Dunkineely to enlist. No 2247. 1^st Battalion, Irish Guards. Died 5^th April 1916. Age 32. Interred Guards cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy – Pas de Calais. I.F.20.

James McCullagh, Lance Corporal. Son of Andrew and Mary Ann McCullagh, Aghayeevoge, and brother of John, Bessie, Andrew, Thomas, Susan, and Janie. No. 439274. Canadian Infantry, Manitoba Regiment. Died 27^th May 1916. Age 24. Interred Maple Copse cemetery, Zillebeke, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen. II.A.2. When James joined the Canadian Army both his parents had died – his father in August 1914 at 95, and his mother in October of the same year, aged 68.

Arthur McShane, Lance Corporal. Son of Joseph and Minnie McShane, 35, West College Street, Anderston, Glasgow. Native of Killybegs. 201158. 1^st/5^th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Died of wounds, 28^th August 1918. Age 22. Interred Ligny-Sur-Canche British cemetery, Pas de Calais. A.25.

Charles Francis O’Donnell, Lance Corporal. Born Killybegs. Son of Anthony and the late Margaret (nee McMonigle, daughter of Pat McMonigle and Catherine McShane), Elmwood Terrace. S/29108. 2^nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Formerly King Edward’s Horse. Killed in action in France, 19^th November 1917. Age 33. Charles was a grand-uncle of Mary and Kathleen Cunningham, Elmwood Terrace. Prior to enlisting in the Army he worked as a clerk at the Railway Station beside his home. His mother, Margaret, died during a concert in the Foresters’ Hall in March 1905.

G. O’Malley, Private. Son of George P. and Hannah O’Malley, Killybegs. 73501. 28^th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, Saskatchewan Regiment. Killed in action 18^th July 1918. Age 38. Interred Wanquetin Communal cemetery extension, Pas de Calais. II.B.16.

Albert Victor Patton, Sapper. Son of Frederick Thomas (Coastguard) and Pricilla Patton, Killybegs. Born 24^th December 1892.

William James Pudner, Corporal. Son of Thomas (Coastguard carpenter) and Mary Maria Pudner (nee Cooke), 13, St Aubyn Street, Devonport. Born, Coastguard Station, Killybegs 19^th March 1889. 8342. 1^st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Died 21^st October 1914.

Daniel Quigley, Private. Son of Joseph and Annie Quigley (nee Gallagher) Bridge Street, Killybegs. Born 4^th June 1896. 7606. 2^nd Battalion Cameronians, Scottish Rifles. Died 24^th May 1915. Interrerd Merville Communal cemetery, Nord, France. III.G.7.  Daniel should not be confused with Dan Quigley, proprietor of Quigley’s store on Bridge Street, who married Elizabeth Conwell of Killybegs (she lived where Hegartys’ shop is located). Dan was a nephew of Cardinal O’Donnell, and was a member of the Killybegs Red Cross, Lighting Committee, A.O.H., Sports Committee, Killybegs A.F.C., and so on. Rosanna McGinn-Boyle remembers him well, and he is mentioned several times in the new book, St Columba’s Industrial School. Packie Manus Byrne bought his first ‘penny whistle’ in Quigley’s shop. Dan died on 21^st January 1946.

Alexander Watson, Private. Son of James and Mary A. Watson,(nee Welch), Largy, Killybegs. 634171. Princes Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Eastern Ontario Regiment. Died 26^th August 1918. Age 27. Interred Feuchy Chapel British cemetery, Wancourt, Pas de Calais. V.J.9.

Richard Williams, Rifleman. Son of Thomas and Anne Williams, 14 Westland Gardens, Belfast. Born in Killybegs. 6390. 2^nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. Enlisted Belfast. Died 6^th December 1918. Age 28. Interred Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military cemetery, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. V.A.18. Richard’s father, Thomas, was a Petty Officer and gunner on HM ships Victoria, Imogene and Argus which were stationed at Killybegs from 1879 to 1889. His mother was Anne Boyd, daughter of James Boyd who owned Boyd’s public house, Killybegs. It can be seen in some of the Lawrence photographs, – the last building to stand in the centre of the Diamond. The Boyd family emigrated to New York where their descendants live.

Frank O’Hara, born 10 February 1886, Dublin, died 4 October 1917, aged 30. Regiment: Royal Naval Reserve. Service number: 10217 D.A. (Po.) Deck hand, H.M.S. Colleen. Killed accidentally on board.  Buried in Killybegs Catholic cemetery, (old), about 12 yards west of Stile entrance. Next of kin listed as Father, John, Killybegs.  (Ireland- National Roll of Honour, 1914-1921)