Over twenty people attended the inaugural meeting of the Cork Branch of the Western Front Association which took place in the Rob Roy Pub in Cork City at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 25 May, 2011. Most of those present were already members of the Association but a number of potential recruits also attended.
Gerry White acted as chairman at the beginning of the meeting and, after welcoming everyone he outlined the objectives of the association. He then said that the first order of business was the formation of a committee, and the following offiers were elected:
Chairman: Gerry White
Secretary: Dave O'Connell
Treasurer: Francis O'Connell
Research Officer: Jean Prendergast
Public Relations Officer: Ross Glennon
Education Officer: Eugene Power
Gerry then proposed that the position of Honorary President should be created for the branch and that Billy Good should be the first to hold that position. He said that Billy had been involved in commemmorating those who fell in the Great War for many years. He was also a member of the Bandon War Memorial Committee and was involved in the publication of ‘A Great Sacrifice - Cork Servicemen who died in the Great War'. The meeting unanimously agreed to Gerry's proposal and extended their congratulations to Billy.
It was then agreed that the Cork Branch would stage a day long event with members of the Irish Great War Society at Cork Public Museum in Fitzgerald Park on 2 July 2011 on the theme ‘Understanding the Great War'. The event will consist of a display of unifoms, weapons and other artifacts by the members of the Great War Society, a medal display by Ross Glennon, a research desk manned by Jean Prendergast, the screening of the 1916 film ‘The Battle of the Somme' and a series of talks on that battle and other aspects of the conflict.
Once the formal business of the meeting was concluded, Ross Glennon gave a talk on his extensive display of Great War medals. He was followed by Billy Good who spoke about the military career of his father Lieutenant William Good MC. Billy also displayed his father's medals and other memorabilia from the Great War.
Photo: Ross Glennon speaking about his extensive collection of Great War medals.
After the meeting concluded everyone adjoiurned to the Rob Roy where the future plans for the Cork Branch were discussed in a less formal setting - and the main thing that emerged during these discussions was that everyone was glad that a branch of the WFA had been formed in Cork and all looked forward to being members of the Association!
Photo: Committee members (left to right): Ross Glennon (PRO), Billy Good (Honorary President), Gerry White (Chairman)
Article and photographs supplied by Gerry White.
Congratulations to Gerry and the team on establishing this new branch of the WFA - Ed.
Contact for the Branch: Gerry White.
