Laois men were to the fore when Prince Charles visited Glasnevin Cemetery to unveil Victoria Cross paving stones and view the Cross of Remembrance built by a local firm from Stradbally.
Niall Kavanagh, MD of McKeon Stone and James McKeon, company director, were invited guests for the formal event in Glasnevin, in recognition of the significant work done by the business in Glasnevin Cemetery.
Prince Charles and Camilla attended the unveiling of Victoria Cross paving stones in memory of four Irish-born soldiers – Corporal John Cunningham, Company Sergeant Major Robert Hill Hanna, Lieutenant Frederick Maurice Watson Harvey and Private Michael James O’Rourke. The soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross in 1917.
There is another Laois connection to this, as Lieutenant Harvey’s great nephew is now a rector in Abbeyleix.
Prince Charles then visited the Necrology Wall which commemorates the 488 people killed during the Easter Rising.
After that the party visited the graves of Éamon de Valera, Michael Collins and the parents of James Joyce.
“It was a great occasion. While it was a formal occasion, it was also relaxed,” Niall Kavanagh said of last Friday’s event.
Commenting on his discussion with Prince Charles, Mr Kavanagh said: “We chatted for a few minutes. He was very interested in the stone and where it came from. We explained to him that it was limestone from Kilkenny and he had just come from there”.
“It was a very relaxed affair and was very amicable. Prince Charles had time to stop and chat. I very impressed with him,” Mr Kavanagh said.
Photo Chris Bellew / Fennells
The Cross of Remembrance was completed in recent years by McKeon Stone, following its commission by Glasnevin Trust and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Standing at 7 metres tall, the cross takes pride of place close to the grave of one of Ireland’s most famous patriots.
It is the only cross made from Irish limestone as others around the world are typically made from Portland stone.
“The cross is right beside the grave of Charles Stewart Parnell and will be there for a long time after we are all gone,” said Mr Kavanagh.
McKeon Stone also recently completed a France-Ireland Memorial Cross which was erected in Glasnevin in 2016 and stands proudly at 21 feet.
“The French cross is similar. It was unveiled in November, 2016,” Mr Kavanagh said.
The French cross came about when the French ambassador was attending an Armistice Day commemoration and noted the absence of a French cross. “He asked ‘Where’s France’ and it grew from there,” Mr Kavanagh said.
“Huge work has been done in Glasnevin Cemetery for the past 10 years in the build up to the centenary of 1916,” Mr Kavanagh said.
Attraction
He said it is now developing into a significant tourist attraction and is a stop off point for tourist buses in Dublin.
“Glasnevin Trust CEO George McCullough said Glasnevin Cemetery is not a Valhalla for Republicanism, it was never meant to be like that,” Mr Kavanagh said.
He added that the cemetery encompasses much of Ireland’s history and now also allows visitors climb the Daniel O’Connell tower.
Mr Kavanagh urges everyone to visit Glasnevin cemetery. “It is a good day out and is a step back in history,” he said.
Anyone visiting the cemetery should be sure to pay a visit to view the crosses and stone work completed by McKeon Stone which takes pride of place there.
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