Funding boost for Tobermore project on First World War

The project is entitled Tobermore and remembering the valiant soldiers who served, in Tobermore.

Led by volunteers from the local community, the project focuses on the men that fought and gave their lives in FWW for King and country in 1914 - 1918.

The initiative will run until March 2015 andwill enable members of the local community and the Key Stage 2 children from both Tobermore and Kilross Primary Schools to visit the Somme Heritage Centre in Newtownards to help them understand the sacrifice made by the men and women who fought and were killed in the FWW.

The project team plan to gather as much information, artefacts and memorabilia relating to local soldiers that enlisted into the 36th Ulster Division and collate it in one place for all to share.

Classes will be run within the community so they can help with the research and the development of booklet summarising all that has been discovered.

Children will also take part in the project through a series of FWW educational talks by local historians and an interactive morning within school.

A social media Facebook page will be developed to capture the project as it progresses, allowing members of the community to participate even if not able to attend the organised activities.

The project will end with an event to launch the booklet, celebrate all the hard work of the community and to mark the sacrifice given by so many.

Tobermore Community Projects is an organisation that works with the community of Tobermore to help educate, train and support the community development of the village and its residents.

This project will be of great interest to so many of the families that their fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers gave so much for the FWW.

It will give the community a sense of pride knowing that so many from a small community of Ulster enlisted to fight for King and country.

This will be a vital and local heritage project to treasure for generations to come.

Tobermore Community Projects Chairperson Eric Hassan said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and this award will promote community participation, keep safe a collection of interesting stories, pictures, diaries, poems and most importantly the names of all the valiant soldiers from Tobermore “All gave some and some gave all”

Paul Mullan, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund NI said: “We were pleased to fund this project in Tobermore which will give local people the chance to explore the legacy of the First World War on their area.

“The impact of the FWW was incredibly far reaching and our FWW programme has seen a great deal of interest in people wanting to commemorate this important centenary.

“There are so many stories that make up the complex history of the FWW and we are delighted to help communities across the Northern Ireland to research their wartime heritage.”