> A song was played at the funerals of two of the greatest Irishmen who ever > lived............. >> > The words were written by an Irish man. > > 1. Who were these two men, and who wrote the song? The two men were Michael Collins and John F. Kennedy. The song was 'Let Erin Remember' written by Thomas Moore > > The British saluted the man who was born and bred in Ireland in a way which > very few people know about on part of his final journey > > in a way which everyone should know about........... > > 2. How was he saluted? Michael Collins died in Cork. He was to be buried in Dublin. It was decided that his body should be returned to Dublin by sea for fear of trouble if he was moved over land. When the ship carrying Michael Collins left Cork, the British were lying off shore. They gave him a salute - guns - and then they played 'The Minstrel Boy' another Thomas Moore melody. The British escorted this ship to Dublin lying outside Irish waters. > > Another 'song' was played to honour the man who was not born and bred in > Ireland.........and this song/music stood out because it had never been > played for a dead man before - only to those who lived. > > 3. What was this song? The music was 'Hail to the Chief' something which is only played to living Presidents. > > Three days after President Eamonn De Valera of Ireland died, the Irish Army > marched from Cathal Brugha Barracks (I think it was - I can be brought up on > that one) to Glasnevin Cemetery and played a salute to a man who had died a > long time before > > 4. Who was that man? They marched to Glasnevin in order to salute Michael Collins. > > In 1938, when the British Navy were leaving Haulbowline in Cork, they sent a > request to President Eamonn Devalera. > > 5. What was the request and what happened afterwards....... The British requested that they be allowed to leave their barracks bearing arms. President DeValera granted that request - that they would leave with honour. In return, they asked that he have his youngest serving officer (a 19 year old) stand on a hill in Cobh. When the ships had left Cobh, they turned about, faced Cobh raised their guns and fired in salute to the officer on the hill.