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Happy Birthday Irish Defence Forces
Happy Birthday Irish Defence Forces Wishing the Irish Defence Forces a happy 96 birthday. Under the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923 the Executive Council formally established Óglaigh na hÉireann – the Irish Defence Forces on 1 October 1924. Its predecessor – the National Forces 1922/1924 – had been
Wexford Arnhem Veteran Honoured
Wexford Arnhem Veteran Honoured By People of Netherlands At a special Covid ceremony in Enniscorthy Castle on 18 September, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, HE Adriaan Palm (from Arnhem), honoured Wexfordman Mr. Sam Kendrick, the last known Irish veteran of the Battle of Arnhem, for his
Round Table Discussion in the Somme Museum
Roundtable Discussion in the Somme Museum Spent a very enjoyable and engaging day in the Somme Museum discussing future projects supported by the Dep. of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht, focusing on Ireland and the Great War, and exploring Irish identity, diversity and reconciliation. Thank you to the museum
International Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day
Pipers, Buglers, Trumpeters, Cornet Players, Town Criers and Churches around the world took part in the important commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day, better known as VJ Day: the day the war not only ended in the Pacific, but also the day the Second World
Two Kildare Veterans Tell Their Story
Two Kildare Veterans Tell Their Story Interview with Sergeant Sharon McNamara and Sergeant Major Billy Redmond On Friday 7 August we met up with two retired Kildare veterans to record their stories: Sergeant Sharon McNamara and Sergeant Major Billy Redmond.Sharon comes from a long line of military service with
Victory Over Japan
Victory Over Japan 75 years ago in the Summer of 1945, the war in the Pacific and Far East raged on. Offensive Japanese capability had all but been neutralised; an invasion of Japan was being planned. At Yalta the Allies discussed bringing the war to swiftly to an end.
Farewell Delta13Charlie
Farewell Delta13Charlie: We salute You It is with very heavy heart that we share the sad news of the passing of Michael Coyne. Michael has been a huge supporter of our work along with his son Michel Coyne junior: our videographer. Our sincere condolences to his family and comrades.
Celbridge’s Victoria Cross
Celbridge’s Victoria Cross – Lieutenant Colonel John Augustus Conolly Project: Celbridge’s Military Story It as a real honour today to visit the graveside of Celbridge’s own Victoria Cross recipient at Mount Jerome Cemetery in Dublin: Lieutenant Colonel John Augustus Conolly. Growing up in Celbridge I knew nothing of this
USS Indianapolis Honoured
In a virtual ceremony on 24 July, the United States Congress, awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, its highest honour, to all living and dead crew members of the USS Indianapolis (CL/CA-35); which was sunk by Japanese torpedoes 75 years ago on 30 July 1945. The ceremony was broadcast on
Ireland Deploys to Congo 60 Years Ago Today
Ireland Deploys to Congo 60 Years Ago Today 60 years ago today, Ireland deployed troops on its first battalion size United Nations deployment. The Congo became independent from Belgium on 30 June 1960, in turn triggering a sequence of destabilising events. The Belgian commander, Lieutenant General Émile Janssens, refused
Interview with Dr. Cathal Berry TD
Interview with Dr. Cathal Berry TD Project: Kildare’s Veterans’ Story Taking part in our Kildare’s Veterans’ Story project today was Óglaigh na hÉireann / Irish Defence Forces veteran Dr Cathal Berry TD in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Cathal is an Independent TD for the constituency of Kildare South. Cathal is
Celbridge’s Lost Son – Private Robert Beveridge
Celbridge’s Lost Son – Private Robert Beveridge Over the past year and half we have been researching for our first project – Celbridge’s Military Story. This project has led us down history trails we never envisaged. A project by the History Squad in Scoil Na Mainistreach on Celbridge’s casualties
The National Day of Commemoration
The annual National Day of Commemoration took place today at 11:00a, today to commemorate all those Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations. The principal ceremony was held in the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin, with smaller events taken
Annual Ceremony of Commemoration and Wreath-laying
The Annual Ceremony of Commemoration and Wreath-laying took place today at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens at Islandbridge. Due to Covid 19, restrictions were in place and a smaller ceremony was held in the Rose Garden.The event was arranged and led by the Royal British Legion Republic of
On the History Trail in the Glen of Imaal
Anyone who has served in the Irish Defence Forces will be very familiar with the Glen of Imaal in the heart of Wicklow. In typical military fashion every training exercise or time on the range in this area is marked with either cold lashing rain or relentless attacks by
Walking Dublin Bay’s Martello Towers
Walking Dublin Bay’s Martello Towers At 5:00am yesterday morning Peter Molloy headed off on his 26-mile walk along the coast of Dublin Bay from Bray to Howth. In aid of Waterloo Uncovered. Peter followed the trail of the remaining Napoleonic era Martello Towers. We joined him at Dalkey and
Waterloo Uncovered – Walking Dublin Bay’s Martello Towers
The Battle of Waterloo 18 June 1815, is one of the most defining battles in world history. For the Emperor Napoleon: victory was everything. Facing him were two armies of the Seventh Coalition: consisting of units from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Hanover, Brunswick and Nassau, the Anglo-Dutch army
Women in Peacekeeping: A Key to Peace
Women in Peacekeeping: A Key to Peace Today marks the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. It offers a chance to pay tribute to the uniformed and civilian personnel’s invaluable contribution to the work of the UN and to honour more than 3,900 peacekeepers who have lost their lives
75th Anniversary Victory in Europe Day
75th Anniversary Victory in Europe Day On Monday 7 May 1945, General Alfred Jodl, Adolf Hitler’s military advisor, controller of German High Command and Chief of the Operations Staff, signed the surrender of all German forces in in Allied General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s headquarters, Rheims, France. A radio broadcast
Liberation of Sr Kate McCarthy – 75th Anniversary
Liberation of Sr Kate McCarthy – 75th Anniversary The 75th anniversary of World War II brought out thousands of stories from veterans, those that lived through it, and family descendants. A heroine nun from Cork is not the story you would expect to hear when talking about the French
ANZAC Day 2020
ANZAC Day 2020 Updated: 25 April 2020 The Australian Embassy in Ireland has confirmed that the annual ANZAC Day dawn service for 2020 at Grangegorman Military Cemetery will not go ahead this year due to Covid 19 restrictions. They ask all of you to stay home and stay safe.
Historic Moment for the Royal Irish
Historic Moment for The Royal Irish Regiment On St. Patrick’s Day, the new Regimental Flag was officially raised for the first time. It was designed with legacy and courage at its core; based on the Royal Ulster Rifles’ WWII shoulder flash. It is a symbol which is important to
New Jackals for Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry
New Jackals Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry first published: 27 February 2020 On 23 February members of B (North Irish Horse) Squadron, The Scottish & North Irish Yeomanry – who are paired with the Regular Army’s Royal Scots Dragoon Guards – marked the end of a 2-week course camp
The Emergency Air Corps
We had the pleasure today of meeting two of Ireland’s leading aviation historians – Corporal Michael Whelan (Museum Curator) and Tony Kearns (Volunteer historian) – at the Air Corps Museum, Casement Aerodrome. The Air Corps museum is a credit to the service. A dedicated team help record and preserve
Researching Military Records 1750s – 1860s
Researching Military Records 1750s – 1860s It was great to meet and talk to the genealogy students from University College Cork and University of Limerick about tracing Irish soldiers from the 18th and 19th century. The Irish in the American Revolution and American Civil War were two focused topics
Passing of Major General David O’Morchoe
Passing of Major General David O’Morchoe We share the sad news of the passing of Major General David O’Morchoe, CB, CBE, KLJ.Our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Living in Tara Hill Gorey Wexford for many years. General O’Morchoe was born in 1928. A prominent figure in veteran’s
Glasnevin Honours Ireland’s Great War Fallen
Glasnevin Honours Ireland’s Great War Fallen Photos by Michael Coyne It was an honour to attend a poignant ceremony marking Armistice Day at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, yesterday. Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Ms Josepha Madigan TD; Councillor Gary Gannon, on behalf of the Lord Mayor of Dublin;
Annual Remembrance Ceremony at Granegorman
Dignitaries, members of the Irish Defence Forces, veterans, family, and members of the public turned out in the rain today at Grangegorman Military Cemetery to remember those who served and lost their lives during the Great War. The annual remembrance event is co-hosted by the OPW and Claddagh Branch
Woodenbridge Great War Commemoration
It was an honour for Ireland’s Military Story/The Irish Military Heritage Foundation to be invited to the annual Great War commemoration in Woodenbridge, County Wicklow. In beautiful surroundings on the banks of the river Aughrim at Woodenbridge county Wicklow is the Woodenbridge World War One Memorial Park. The memorial
Sergeant Noel McGivern: retired Emergency and United Nations veteran with the Irish Defence Forces.
Sergeant Noel McGivern: retired Emergency and United Nations veteran with the Irish Defence Forces. Project: Dublin Port’s Emergency Story This week we had the pleasure of meeting Noel McGivern and his wife Patsy. Noel gave us a remarkable insight into life in the early Defence Forces. His father Daniel
Retirement of Air Corps Reims Rocket
First published 22 June 2019. Updated 7 October 2019. 21 June marked a significant day in Irish Air Corps history, after 47 years the Reims FR172H was stood down from operational service.These aircraft were purchased in 1972 for border surveillance operations & served in various roles since then from
Western Front Association Conference
Western Front Association Conference Thank you to the The Western Front Association for their hospitality on Saturday at their conference in Dublin Port. Our team at the event thoroughly enjoyed the day and the speakers’ contributionsThe conference examined the legacy and aftermath of the First World War.The event was
Cork’s Arnhem Victoria Cross: Flight Lieutenant David Lord
Cork’s Arnhem Victoria CrossFlight Lieutenant David Lord 75 years ago, Allied forces in Europe launched Operation Market Garden: an air and land operation derived to drive a 103km salient in German occupied Netherlands and establish a bridgehead over the River Rhine. Market Garden consisted of two sub-operations:Market – an
Dublin Port’s Emergency Story: LDF Veteran – Oliver Joseph Doyle
Dublin Port’s Emergency StoryLDF veteran – Oliver Joseph Doyle As part of our newest project on Dublin Port during the Emergency (1939 – 1946) period we met today and interviewed Oliver Joseph Doyle from Stella Gardens, Irishtown, Dublin. Oliver who is 98, worked as a iron moulder, but during
Dublin Port’s Emergency Story
Dublin Port’s Emergency Story We are pleased to announce a wonderful project for the Dublin Port Company that will tell the story of the Emergency (1939 – 1946) in Dublin; in particular the defence of Dublin and the port. If you are a veteran or there is a veteran
Kildare’s War of Independence Story
Kildare’s War of Independence Story The War of Independence (1919 – 1921) turned Ireland upside down. In a series for Kildare Decade of Commemorations we will be telling the story of this period in Kildare with the help of local historians we will be telling the stories of attacks
Victory Day Commemorations in Dublin
On 11 November, 1918, the guns fell silent across frontlines spanning several continents. Some ten million military personnel and eight million civilians lost their lives. Millions of others were severally wounded, many went on to live with hidden wounds that haunted them for the rest of their lives. The
The National Day of Commemoration – Collins Barracks, Dublin
The National Day of Commemoration is held on the Sunday closest to the 11th July, the date on which, in 1921, the Anglo-Irish Truce was agreed. The event normally takes place in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, but on two occasions in the past it has on taken place in
Annual Ceremony of Remembrance and Wreath Laying Irish National War Memorial Gardens
The annual ceremony of commemoration and wreath-laying at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens at Islandbridge is arranged and led by the Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland District with the co-operation and assistance of the Irish State. This major Battle of the Somme anniversary event commemorates those who
Our First Project – Celbridge’s Military Story
Our First Project – Celbridge’s Military Story The Irish Military Heritage Foundation CLG has been awarded a grant under the Kildare County Council Heritage Grant Scheme 2019. The grant has been awarded towards the Foundation’s inaugural project – Celbridge’s Military Story. This will be a series of short online
Veterans Parade at Military Show in Naas
Well done to everyone involved in another brilliant weekend of military history at the 13th Annual Irish Military Vehicle Group Show at Naas Racecourse County Kildare on Saturday and Sunday.One of the highlights of this year’s show was the Veteran’s Parade hosted by Irish United Nations Veterans Association.
Call Out To Celbridge LDF/FCÁ
Call Out To Celbridge LDF/FCÁ In the past Celbridge has had several military units of it’s own; a company of Irish Volunteers was formed in 1779 known as the Castletown Union, the Castletown Union Volunteers or the Castletown Volunteers. This unit was reformed into the Celbridge Volunteers in 1784;
Glasnevin Commemorates US Memorial Day
Today we were honoured to attend Glasnevin Cemetery for a very special event: The 2019 Observance of America’s Memorial Day and Ceremonies Decorating the Graves of Irish Veterans of the Military Services of the United States. George Dodd, resident historian at Glasnevin, brought everyone around the cemetery to the
Defence Forces Veterans’ Day
Defence Forces Veterans’ Day 2019 The annual Irish Defence Forces Veterans’ Day took place today in Collins Barracks, Dublin. The event was attended by the Minister of State with Responsibility for Defence, Paul Kehoe TD, and the General Staff. Veterans of the Irish Defence Forces attended from the Organisation
ANZAC Day 2019
Anzac Day is the solemn national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand to remember all those soldiers who have fought and died for their country. It is marked annually on the anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign in 1915 during the First World War. This year is the
Reserve Celebrate 90 Years
Photos by Michael Coyne and Wesley Bourke Celebrations took place today in the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, to mark the 90 anniversary of the formation of Reserve Defence Forces. Although reserve elements had been experimented with by the fledgling Irish Defence Forces the first formal reserve component
Happy Birthday Lt. Col. Ned Cusack
Happy Birthday Lt. Col. Ned Cusack 100 Years Old Photos by Michael Coyne Renmore Barracks, Galway, had a very special guest on Friday: Lieutenant Colonel Ned Cusack who turned 100 on 1 March. A veteran turning 100 is not a daily occurrence; especially a former member of 1st Infantry
In Friendship and In Service Supporting the RAF Family
In Friendship and In ServiceSupporting the RAF FamilyThe Royal Air Force Association, Republic of Ireland By Wesley Bourke Photos by Michael Coyne Published in Winter 2017 edition Founded in 1929, the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) is committed to providing confidential, professional and fair services to members of the
Keeping Ireland’s Aviation History Alive – The Ulster Aviation Collection
Published: Winter 2017 edition Keeping in line with our Royal Air Force theme we decided to pay a visit to the largest collection of aircraft on the island of Ireland – the Ulster Aviation Collection. Housed within an ex-Second World War hangar at Maze Long Kesh, outside Lisburn, Co.
Meeting his fate among the clouds above
Published: Winter 2017 edition Regarded as the ‘brains’ of the family, Joe left his family home after completing his studies at St. Finian’s College; he was 19 years old. He left behind his parents, Elizabeth and Joseph, and four siblings, Bridie, Willie, Kathleen, and Lilly. He was talented at