Civilian and Soldier Side by Side

This grave is the one closest to where Peter Fahy lies.  It belongs to Royal Irish Rifleman Michael Ennis who died on 18 May 1916.  His grave was unmarked for 96 years until The Glasnevin Trust and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission began the project of marking the graves of Irish servicemen.

He lived just a 5 minute walk from Peter Fahy, and was 32 years old. He was married to Lily Pine in 1909, and had three children, the youngest born in April 1916.  He enlisted in July 1915 and went to France 19 December 1915.  He suffered from tuberculosis of the lung in January 1916 and was discharged 18 February 1916 no longer physically fit for war service.

Rifleman Michael Ennis: regimental number 8094 Royal Irish Rifles, 7th Bn RIR, 48th Brigade of the 16th Division.
Died: 18 May 1916 .

Cause of Death: Haemoptysis (the coughing up of blood.) at Richmond Hospital. Address: 9 Arran Quay, Dublin. 

Occupation: Soldier. 

Religion: RC. 

Marital status: Married. 

Informant: Thomas Wilson, 4 Ushers Island.

The irony is that the person who registered Michael's death was a neighbour of the man who would lie next to the soldier in Glasnevin Cemetery and both left a newborn behind, fatherless.