I was deep in the heart of the Armagh countryside because I had arranged to meet a gentleman who's uncle may - or may not - have been the 'young Willie McBride' of Eric Bogle's very moving song. I wanted a clearer copy of his photograph to use on the screen during the performance.
I got to thinking about this lad and his friends. Just teenagers when they left home and hearth, and went to fight - and die - for king and country in the misery of the trenches.
Many of the Ulstermen died in the Battle of the Somme - over 60,000 British Casualties on July 1, 1916 - the first day of the battle.
I can't comprehend that number. It's at least 10 thousand more than a full stadium at an international rugby match in Dublin for sure.
By November, the British, German and French casualties numbered over a million. Horrific. And that was just one battle.
If you don't know the song - there's a nice version by Liam Clancy here. There's also a good one here in English and German - but I prefer Clancy's version.
