Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
Rui Vieira/PA Wire/Press Association Images
# Your Say
Poll: Should we wear poppies to honour the Irish war dead?
More than 50,000 Irish people died in the First and Second World Wars. Should we wear the poppy to commemorate them?
TODAY IS REMEMBRANCE day, when countries around the world honour their soldiers who fought and died.
The day is a strong tradition in Britain, with millions wearing the red poppy as a mark of respect for veterans of the First and Second World Wars, among other conflicts.
However, more than 200,000 Irish men served in the British Army during the First World War, and almost 50,000 were killed in action. Another 50,000 people enlisted in the British Army from the Free State in WWII, with 7,000 killed.
Writing on TheJournal.ie today, Liam Nolan argues that it could be time to reconsider Ireland’s relationship with the poppy and wear it in memory of our war victims – just as Germany, France, Belgium and Israel hold remembrance services for their own fallen soldiers around November 11.
So what do you think? Should we wear the poppy to honour Ireland’s war dead?
Poll Results:
Yes (1768)
No, but we should have an Irish alternative (1481)
No (864)
I don't know (194)
Column: Is it time to start wearing the poppy?>
Gallery: Intimate portraits of Irish WWII veterans>
