The London Irish Rifles Monument Service

A quiet and solemn service with Dr Felice Vitale at the Piedimonte Etneo, Sicily monument erected in honour of all those serviceman from The London Irish Rifles that liberated the town in 1943. A truely beautiful and remarkable monument dedicated to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in Sicily during Operation Husky 80 years ago.

Thank you to Sandra Pennisi who impromptuly filmed us. We carried out this service in honour of all those who fought and died, but especially to remember our conference director, Edmund O'Sullivan and Irish Rifles Museum Curator, Richard O'Sullivan's father who fought alongside many of those that here, in Piedimonte Etneo, are remembered for eternity at this magnificent memorial.

A special thanks must be said to Antonino Vitale, at the age of 13, who in 2013, for the 70th Anniversary, wondered what was going on and spurred by his curiosity and interest of those that liberated his town, requested his dad to help him research and reach out to The London Irish Rifles and making contact with Edmund and Richard. The rest is history and was the beginning of a long standing and ongoing special relationship with the town in the foothills of Mt.Etna.

God bless you Antonino.