The Duke of Kent, President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), and Irish President Michael D Higgins unveiled a Cross of Sacrifice to honour Ireland’s war dead at Glasnevin Cemetery, in Dublin on Thursday.
The Cross of Sacrifice at Glasnevin is the first to be created in the Republic of Ireland.
The memorial serves to honour the approximately 60,000 Irishmen and women killed in combat. It is located in Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetery.
Opened in 1832, Glasnevin Cemetery, known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland. The cemetery has an estimated 1.5 million burials.
“The Cross of Sacrifice we dedicate today, is an important step in the continuing process of recognising and remembering those Irishmen and women who died in the two world wars. It represents a lasting tribute to their sacrifice and it is my hope, in the years to come, that memorials such as these continue to inspire successive generations to remember,” The Duke of Kent stated during the event.
The Cross of Sacrifice is found in cemeteries around the world containing the graves of 40 or more war dead. Before the recent events that lead to the construction in Glasnevin Cemetery, Ireland was the only country not to have one.
“In the year that marks the Centenary of the First World War, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is delighted that our joint initiative to erect a Cross of Sacrifice in Glasnevin Cemetery has reached fruition. The Cross is an important feature of our work worldwide, commemorating those from both Ireland and throughout the Commonwealth who gave their lives during both World Wars. We are extremely grateful to the Irish Government, public, and the Glasnevin Trust, all of whom have done so much to support our work of commemoration and remembrance in Ireland,” Deirdre Mills, the CWGC’s Director of UK Operations, noted.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission makes certain that 1.7 million people who died in the two world wars will never be overlooked. The CWGC maintains cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations, in 153 countries.