Remembering James O’Toole at an iconic WWI battle in Belgium
By Mary Dennehy
A location in Belgium where a Templeogue man may have fallen during an iconic WWI battle was dusted with soil from his parents’ grave in St Maelruain’s cemetery in Tallaght and sprinkled with water from the Dodder River – where the fallen soldier would have swam as a boy.
Last week The Echo ran an article on a new exhibition at the County Library, Tallaght, in which the life stories of 13 men killed in two iconic battles of World War I are being told – a living history that directly connects to our communities today.
According to the exhibition, one Tallaght man, William (Billy) Barrett is the only known casualty of the Battle of Messines (1917) from South Dublin County.
William’s mother ran a pub in Tallaght which was then called Barrett’s, with the premises still open as a watering hole but now known as The Dragon Inn.
The Third Battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele, lasted from July 31 to November 10 in 1917, with the battle characterised by persistent mud and heavy losses.
Twelve men who were born or lived in South Dublin County were killed at Passchendaele; Daniel Brady and Robert Christopher Butler (Rathcoole), James O’Toole (Templeogue), John Nolan (Saggart), Joseph Redmond, Richard Rodgers and Thomas McCann (Rathfarnham), Thomas Stoney (Tallaght), John Monahan and William Carroll (Lucan), Ralph Mulligan and Richard Rumgay (Clondalkin).
After reading last week’s article, the family of James O’Toole (Templeogue) got in touch with The Echo to share their connection to World War I and how they have commemorated James and his brother John, who also died during the Great War.
Michael O’ Toole, who is James’ nephew, told The Echo: “The family name O’Toole has been synonymous with Tallaght, Templeogue and Knocklyon for over a hundred years.
“Four brothers from Knocklyon cottages, John, Mikey, James and Joe went off to fight in the First World War.
“John died in Gallipoli in August 1915, his name is on the Helles NWGC (National War Gardens Commission) war memorial in Turkey and a group of the O’ Tooles/Morrisons went there to commemorate the centenary of his death two years ago.”
In 1917, John’s brother James also lost his life in the Battle of Passchendaele.
“Again, a family group of 19 travelled and we had the privilege of laying a wreath at the Menin Gate NWGC war memorial on the very date one hundred years later”, Michael said.
“It was a very moving experience.”
He added: “From the records of James’ regiment we traced to a spot out in the country where he may have been killed.
“In the peace of birdsong, wild flowers and farmers tilling in their field, a different scene from the carnage of 100 years ago, we sprinkled dust from his parents’ grave in St Maelruain’s cemetery and tossed a little water from the Dodder, where he would have swam as a boy.”
Michael added how the family members who did not travel, attended a special mass in St Aengus Parish in Tallaght, which was celebrated by Fr Ben Moran.
“All 19 of us nephews and grand nieces and nephews had a memorable and moving experience of those sad times 100 years ago.”
Called Messines and Passchendaele: the South Dublin Perspective, the exhibition runs at County Library, Tallaght, until September 29, with guided tours available on Culture Night, Friday, September 22, from 5pm to 8pm.
Any other local families who have connections to the men remembered in the exhibition are invited to contact The Echo.
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