First World War memorial in Tralee vandalised in paint attack

Royal Munster Fusiliers memorial made of black stone only erected earlier this year

Vandals have splashed red paint over a Tralee memorial to the Royal Munster Fusiliers who died in the first World War. Photograph: John Duggan
Vandals have splashed red paint over a Tralee memorial to the Royal Munster Fusiliers who died in the first World War. Photograph: John Duggan

A first World War memorial in Tralee, Co Kerry has been vandalised.

Vandals splashed red paint over the memorial to the Royal Munster Fusiliers who died in the first World War.

The memorial in black stone cost €3,500 and was only erected in Christ The King Park earlier this summer.

It was approved by Tralee Town Council in one of its last actions before it was dissolved last year.

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Tralee’s Ballymullen Barracks was the main depot of the Royal Munster Fusiliers from 1880 up to the independence of the State.

Let Us Remember

The inscription states: The memorial remembers all those from Tralee who died in the First World War.

The Royal Munster Fusiliers was an old regiment of the British army. Some 3,070 men who fought with the Munsters died in the first World War.

Royal Munster Fusiliers Association chairman Liam Nolan described the incident as “incredibly sad in this day and age”.

Mr Nolan said it was against the spirit of the decade of centenaries which aimed to respectfully honour all those involved in both the first World War and the revolutionary struggle.

Gardaí are investigating the incident.

Ronan McGreevy

Ronan McGreevy

Ronan McGreevy is a news reporter with The Irish Times