Sentinel story has an up beat ending

THE Sentinel story a fortnight ago about the 90-year-old Connaught Rangers Regiment drum that turned up in an antiques shop in the City, has an ‘up beat’ ending.

It has been bought for an undisclosed sum by the Connaught Rangers Association at Boyle, Roscommon, after the Association’s Researcher, Oliver Fallon contacted the Sentinel just over a week ago and an image of the pristine instrument was sent to him.

The Connaught Rangers, also known as ‘The Devil’s Own’, was an Irish Regiment of the British Army formed by the amalgamation in 1881 of the 88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers) and the 94th Regiment of Foot. Both Regiments had the motto ‘Quis Separabit’, which translated means ‘Who shall divide us?’

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The Regiment had the reputation of being the best in the Army, and included in their ranks were soldiers from Londonderry and Donegal.

Simon O’Dowd, proprietor of The Whatnot, which sold the drum, said there had been considerable interest in the drum.

“Anything of that kind involving British and Irish military memorabilia always does attract attention, particularly the Irish Regiment. We had five serious collectors interested in it and it will be taken to them in a month’s time,” he said.

Following the formation of the Connaught Rangers Association in 2001 one of the aims was to expand the collection of Connaught Rangers memorabilia. The addition of the drum will, no doubt, go down well in military circles associated with the Regiment.