Eoin Purcell

What a few days surfing the web for links produced
A lot more about the Irish during world war one.

The BBC have a nice site:

In all, about 210,000 Irishmen served in the British forces during World War One. Since there was no conscription, about 140,000 of these joined during the war as volunteers. Some 35,000 Irish died.

Here

The department of the Taoiseach also has some nice details:

Ireland has a strong military tradition. Even before the departure of the “Wild Geese” after the Treaty of Limerick, Irish soldiers had practised their profession abroad. The recent exhibition of prints by Albrecht Durer contained a watercolour of “Irish soldiers” from 1521. Throughout the 19th century, the British Army in Ireland provided a convenient outlet for young men interested in soldiering.

Here

The Long, Long Trail(which is, b the way a very fine site) has an interesting few articles including this one on the the Ulster Division:

The Ulster Division was one of those selected to make the initial assault. It was in X Corps, with 32nd Division – a New Army formation – on its right facing the height around the immensely fortified position of Thiepval, and the regular army 29th Division, recently arrived from Gallipoli, facing Beaumont Hamel on the other bank of the Ancre. The Ulster Division faced an uphill advance, with the objective of capturing a large strongpoint complex in the enemy lines, called the Schwaben redoubt.

Here

The Waterford County Museum also has a nice article on the Irish regiments during the war:

350,000 Irishmen volunteered for service during WW1 in addition to the 50,000 Irishmen already serving in the regular army and reserve at the outbreak of the war. Most of the southern Irish Catholics served in the five regiments mentioned above that is why we have decided to focus on them. However it should be noted that many Irishmen served in British Regiments (including the Tyneside, Liverpool and London Irish Battalions). What drove such a large body of men to sign up and fight in the army of foreign country? There is no simple answer but a combination of unemployment, idealism and adventure probably accounted for most of the enlistment.

Here

There is much to enjoy on these sites!
Eoin