EDITORIAL: Remembering Liam Lynch at his memorial in Tipperary

​​There are few places in Tipperary where history feels as close to the present as the Liam Lynch Memorial.

Standing in the Knockmealdown Mountains, surrounded by the landscape that witnessed the final days of his life, the memorial is an important reminder of the sacrifices people made for Ireland’s freedom.

It is also a reminder of a difficult and deeply divisive period in Ireland's history.

Liam Lynch remains one of the most significant figures of the Irish Civil War.

Born in Anglesborough in Limerick and closely associated with Tipperary, he was a committed republican who believed passionately in the principles for which he had fought during the War of Independence.

His death at the age of around 29, in April 1923, brought a tragic end to the life of a man who had already played a major role in Ireland's struggle for independence.

Now, a century later, it is hard to understand the times in which he lived.

The Civil War divided families, communities and friends.

It showed that the unimaginable can happen, ones own people can fight against them during conflict. That is why memorials such as the one dedicated to Liam Lynch are important.

We can hike up those mountains and remember a time we cannot comprehend in modern times here in Ireland.

Remembering our history is important and we must not forget those who fought for our freedom. When we look up towards the tower erected in his memory, we must remember that it was constructed using voluntary labour by Lynch's former comrades, loyal supporters, and anti-Treaty volunteers. Even the building of Liam’s memorial had a link to the people that fought alongside him in his struggle for independence.