New Lord Lieutenant makes State entry

Dublin, 15 April 1915 - The new Lord Lieutenant of Ireland has commended the Irish contribution to the war effort in his first speech in Ireland as he made his State entry.

Lord Wimborne, appointed to replace the recently-departed Earl of Aberdeen, said: ‘I am happy to think that none have contributed more wholeheartedly than the brave Irish soldiers and sailors who have answered their country’s call in the hour of need and have shed their blood in the just cause for which we and our allies are fighting.’

Lord Wimborne said that he prayed for an early and successful end to the life-struggle in which they were at present engaged, not least so that it might allow people to turn again to the pastimes for which Ireland was famous.

Arrival and greeting

Lord Wimborne had arrived on the RMS Munster to Kingstown where he was warmly welcomed by a large crowd and a royal salute of 21 guns which was fired from two torpedo boats.

The Viceregal Party then passed to the Kingstown Railway Station to take the train into Westland Row in Dublin City Centre. There, Lord Wimborne mounted a bay charger and, with one white-gloved hand, rode to Dublin Castle to the cheers of the onlooking crowd.

As he passed along the streets of the city, there were numerous demonstrations of loyalty, with Union Jacks and green flags flying everywhere.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]