" After The Fire 1939-45 " - a photo on Flickriver

" After The Fire 1939-45 "

I originally put this photo up on Flickr in Oct 2018 but Ive never made it public till now. Maybe now is the right time.
Human Beings are truly amazing and we have survived so much. No way will we allow a stupid flu bug to beat us so come on, lets kick the " bejaysus " out of it!!!
Stay stronger together apart!
Pat.

"It was in the year of 39 when the sky was full of lead.
When Hitler was heading for Poland,
And Paddy for Holyhead"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEk37t4LWp0

This song called "Mc Alpines Fusilers" was written by Dominic Behan who was the brother of the writer Brendan. It tells the story of the Irish who emigrated to England to work and has nothing to do with the war but I just think the first verse says an awful lot about Irish/English relations at that time.
England gave up its claim to the Republic of Ireland in 1923 and left after 700 years. When war broke out they requested that we allow them to use our ports but they were refused. There was still a lot of pain and mistrust here. Ireland stayed neutral. We were not in any position to join as we had no army really. Of course over 200 thousand Irishmen signed up to fight.
Something I never knew was that signs were put up on many of the headlands here spelling out the word "EIRE" so that it would be obvious to any bomber that we were a neutral country. We were bombed several times and no one has ever found out by exactly who.
The 4 letters and a number were made from stones stuck in the ground and painted white. This is the site here in the photo which only became visible after a gorse fire burned the headland in August. Most people, myself included were totally unaware of these signs till now. They are now talking about preserving them so they can be seen by the public as its an amazing piece of social history.
Because we were neutral it meant that a lot of good things were done here. Hospitals were set up to help injured airmen from both sides who crashed here and many did. Indeed many injured soldiers were brought in here from Northern ireland and treated before being returned to the UK.
An interment camp was set up in the Curragh, Co Kildare were Luftwaffe pilots who crashed here were interned. Well, it actually was an open barracks! They signed an agreement not to escape and were free to roam around the town. They went to dances and pubs and actually, many married local girls. There families are still here and there stories are heartwarming. Only one officer tried to escape but he was caught and brought back. I suppose by that stage, they were a lot safer here really and they knew it and who could blame them really.
. There is a wonderful story that my old schoolteacher told me that comes from where he was born in Co Kerry.
Theres a mountain there that has a deep chasm in it. They call it "the devils bit" It creates a vortex and planes are advised to keep clear of it. However, a young German pilot got lost over the Irish sea and ended up over Co. Kerry. His plane got caught in the suction and crashed on the mountain. Luckily he was uninjured and the locals rescued him. He didnt know where he was as these people were all native Irish speakers and he had no idea what they were saying. A local schoolteacher had some knowledge of German so they were able to explain to him where he was. He made it back home after a few weeks and they say he was picked up by a U boat off the Kerry coast unbeknown to the authorities.
Hundreds of German children were brought in here to safety from Dresden and the other destroyed cities and looked after by families and volunteers in the Glencree reconcillation centre near Enniskerry. Lots of them returned here in 1994 in a 50th year celebration of theur rescue. Truly amazing. The walls were covered in letter that these children had written telling of their lives here and also of their hapiness at being here and how they missed there mothers and fathers in Germany. Many were orphans unfortunately. It would certainly move you to tears. The futility of war!
The Glencree centre is still in operation and children come here from troubled spots all over the World. Lots of children came there from Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The people who run it are truly amazing! The restaurant and centre are open to the public and its an eye opening experience and worth visiting. This is amazing!!!;

www.glencree.ie/history/

Eire Signs Ireland;
eiremarkings.org/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA1Cwta9qx4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwO6Ue3N-dY

Irish "Treaty" Ports;
www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/treaty-ports-h...

Those who signed up;
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/in-service-to-th....

Matt Damon in Dalkey! Great Video!!!!!
www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/matt-damon-in-dal...

Hope you are all well. Keep safe! We are all born survivors!
Pat.

Taken on: August 10, 2018

Sets appears in: • FLICKR DL 12-10-2019 To 24-6-2020 • " The Unforgettable Fire "

Groups appears in: • The Photographer's Club • Photography more » • 日本語flick'r • Magic Moments • Landschaft/Landscape • Lights and Shadows • Beautiful Light • Flickr Addicts • The Light Fantastic • Your Postcard Shot • Young Photographers • !FlickrSoup for Soul • Amateurs • Flickritis: over 87,000 waiting for a vaccine. • Lonely Planet • *The Original* 200 Views • Photography Corner • FlickrToday (only 1 pic per day) • This • Nature Photography • Nice pictures • Your photo goes here! no 30/60 • Views 6000 • Nature Heals the Soul • 250 views (no second life! - only photos! - no poor quality) • Amateur Landscape • Views: 5000 • 1,100 Plus View Club • Beginner's Digital Photography • Self Taught Photographers - LOOK AT DISCUSSIONS FIRST! • IRELAND TODAY • Simply Landscapes • Landscape Junkies • Beautiful Earth • Favorites: 250 • Beautiful Capture • UK and Ireland! • Irish History • British and Irish Coastline Topography • Where I've been • Water, Water Everywhere • PHOTO NOW • Xataka Foto • Landscapes of the World • calatorind prin.... viatza ( Journey through..... life ) • ALL Welcome - I am sick of 'rules and regulations - New Contest • *Nature Pics* • Inspirational Landscapes • The Biggest Group! - Playground For Psychotics • 100.000.000 Flickr Photos [No AI or SL] • Shadow of a Doubt • ★★★Shutter Bug - Tips & Tricks★★★ • Amazing Weather (Skies, Nature, Places) • Photos beautiful • Sky glory • Tus fotos, Your pictures, Le tue foto, Tes photos,정의사진 • "U.K. Photo Gallery" ( All Welcome ) • Color my world! • Camera Camaraderie • Amateur Exclusive • Anything Goes !! • HDR COLORS • Your Best Shot For Today • The Photograph Bank • 1000+ views (No people, please) • Photographers aged 50 + • Photography is Life!! • Photographer's dreams - your favourite clicks • 200 Views Unlimited • 5,000 Views Unlimited 5000 • 2,000 Views Unlimited 2000 • 4,000 Views Unlimited 4000 • Wall Of Photographs • 6,000 Views Unlimited 6000 • 1,500 Views Unlimited 1500 • My time behind the lens No 30/60 limits • Who Likes Sharing Their Photographs ???...I Do • SEASCAPES!!! • Photography with a Story • Photo's passion of the world • The Best ... • PHOTO WORLD! • We love beach! • !*ALL ARE WELCOME*! • Amateur Photographer Magazine • The World According to... • This is Why I Bought A Camera • !*Flickr All Stars*! • ~~~ Artistic Photography ~~~ • Show All Your Photos From Around The World. NO SL/AI • 2100 views and more - NO 30/60 - NO SL • 4500 views minimum - no 30/60 - no SL • WORLD AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS • mundo global de fotografias • The Camera Club [El Club De La Cámara] • THE PHOTO OF ALL DAYS. LA FOTO DE TODOS LOS DIAS. • 70 faves or more - no 30/60 - no SL - no people • 40 FAVES or more - no 30/60 - no SL - no people • * Naturaleza en Estado Puro * • Amazing Landscape beauty • Anything on flickr no rules • !*Only Your Best*! • !*Natures Beauty*! • All great photos - No 30/60 • There`s no limit: Whitout 30/60! • ! Your Flickr Photos ! • ηαтυяє • A LONG WALK IN THE WORLD. VINTAGE • My favourite Photographers • WEBSHOTS COUNTRYPLACE COMMUNITY • Your Top Photo of the Day • Shadows and Moods • * * Nature + Wildlife - (The best of) * * • !*PLANET EARTH*! • No 30/60 Flickr - no SL • The best photographs from around the world. • Photography at its best ... all welcome • *LANDSCAPE TRADITIONS* • Photography (No 30/60 limit) • Photo-Phactory • THERE IS NO LIMIT FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CREATION • BEAUTY PHOTOS AROUND THE WORLD • wildlife and the wild • Photography Outside the Lines • 250 Favorites (No 30/60 Limit) • We love photography! • Nice Places to Visit - No 30/60 Limit - Photos & Videos Welcome. • Fabulous Flickr Landscapes and Seascapes • Landscapes in nature • ! What you Want ( 1 Per Day!!! ) • SnaPix & Chill • 100 faves minimum - no 30/60 - no SL • ( 11 ) SOUTH IRELAND PORTFOLIO EIRE • MY FAVORITE AMAZING SHOTS • 6000 VIEWS - no 30/60 - no SL « less

Stats: 22,007 views / 44 comments

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: