The sound of an old Connaught Rangers' bugle echoed through Aughavale Cemetery, near Westport, Co Mayo, at the weekend after a gravestone was placed over the last resting place of Sgt Maj Cornelius Coughlan who was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in India 147 years ago.
Two great-great-granddaughters of Maj Coughlan, Ms Patricia O'Callaghan and Ms Pauline McGowan, from Glasgow, were very moved.
Ms O'Callaghan (49), a secondary school teacher, told reporters she had never been overly concerned about the fact that the memory of her great-great-grandfather had been ignored up to now. "I think the most important thing is that he has become part of the peace process," she said. "That is wonderful. This new coming together I think it is marvellous."
Ms O'Callaghan's sentiments were echoed by the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, when he performed the official re-dedication of Sgt Maj Coughlan's grave, and by the British Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Stuart Eldon, one of many guests in attendance for the ceremonies.
The Minister said nobody could doubt that events like this could help greatly for a better understanding of the differences that have existed up to now and show how to move forward into the future without compromising on fundamental differences.
Mr Eldon said: "I think it is very significant indeed. It is much more than the honouring of a courageous man. It symbolises the development of the relationship between Britain and Ireland, the new willingness to discuss things which were not so easily discussed at all and the willingness to think about the extent of our shared history."
Capt Donal Buckley (retd), a director of Military Heritage Tours, recalled the sgt major's deeds in the Indian Mutiny in 1857 which resulted in his being decorated with the Victoria Cross.
Capt Buckley said: "The fact that this man served in an imperial army is not the point. The fact that he was denying the Indians their independence and imposing colonial rule was not the point.
"The point is that soldiers in combat are not thinking of ambition or lofty ideals. They are thinking of staying alive and their loyalty is to their comrades.
"The point is that Cornelius Coughlan VC proved his tremendous personal integrity by disregarding his personal safety and risked his life in horrendous circumstances in order to save others. The point is also that he again demonstrated his personal bravery and selflessness on another occasion when his officers were killed by taking over command and leading his wavering men to victory."
The attendance at the historic ceremonies included the Defence Forces Chief-of-Staff, Let Gen Sreenan and descendants of the late Sgt Maj Coughlan, who died in 1915 aged 89, from Glasgow, Bradford and Oxford.
Sgt Maj Coughlan was one of only 200 Irishmen awarded the VC, Britain's highest military honour. As part of the ceremony a musket volley was fired over the grave by a group of Connaught Rangers "re-enactors". Prayers at the graveside were led by Father Brendan Kilcoyne, secretary to the Archbishop of Tuam, and Rev Gary Hastings of the Church of Ireland.