IRELAND’S President Michael D Higgins, along with Britain’s Prince Charles and Prince Harry, will travel to Turkey today for centenary commemorations of the World War I campaign at Gallipoli.
The failed campaign by British and French forces cost thousands of lives, with many Irish-born members of the British forces dying in battle 100 years ago as part of the 1st Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers – one of the Irish regiments in the army.
The Irishmen who lost their lives will be remembered today in the region, with Amhrán na bhFiann playing out over the Aegean Sea – marking the first time Ireland’s losses in the campaign are acknowledged in their own right.
President Higgins, Prince Charles, and Prince Harry will visit V beach, where many of the deaths occurred, and reflect on the Irish experience in World War I.
Meanwhile, in Coventry, the Irish community is joining forces with Turkish and Sikh communities for a special commemoration event – Echoes of 1915: The Munster Fusiliers and Gallipoli Remembered.
This takes place from 3pm to 5pm on Sunday, as part of the Earlesdon Festival.
