Ireland's Military Story

Author: Wesley Bourke

Project Update – A Strong Voice For Veterans
Project Update – A Strong Voice For Veterans

Photos by John O’Byrne

As part of our ongoing project with the NI Veterans Commissioner – Danny Kinahan – and his team we recently met Liz Brown and her team from the NI Veterans’ Support Office (VSO). Both the Northern Ireland Veteran Commissioners Office (NIVCO) and the VSO work collaboratively for the representation and delivery support of services to veterans. The VSO are the lead support and signposting service linking individual veterans, veterans’ groups and their families to available supports.

The VSO supports a wide scope of services and supports across Northern Ireland. We recently visited three inspiring outreach programmes: Decorum NI, the Frontier Pipes and Drums, and Horses for People. Decorum NI supports and empowers those security forces, and their families, who served during the Troubles in Northern Ireland during the period of Op Banner from 1969 – 2007. At the time of our visit, they were conducting a Skills For Life Course with young adults from South Eastern Regional College. These students grew up after the Troubles; as part of a community peace building initiative the course helps veterans share their story by engaging with the students for the future. Taking a break from a rehearsal, Ricky McGaffin introduced us to veterans of The Frontier Pipes and Drums. This veterans’ band promotes good mental health and provides an environment where veterans can meet other veterans, gain skills and qualifications, and ultimately benefit from the comradeship that the band aims to build within its ranks. In a beautiful setting overlooking Strangford Lough, Horses for People run Equine Assisted Learning workshops focussed on building confidence, self-esteem, resilience and more harmonious relationships. Working closely with Inspire Wellbeing, Horses for People has had particularly good successes with veterans suffering from mental health problems through equine therapy.

Each of these programmes help support veterans in their own unique way. Our aim is to use the content we are developing to help sign post veterans on the island of Ireland to supports such as those highlighted here.

We would like to thank David Crabbe and Mitch Bresland – Decorum NI; Ricky McGaffin – Frontier Pipes and Drums; June Burgess – Horses for People; and Michael Donaldson – Inspire Wellbeing, for introducing us to their amazing programmes.

With kind support from The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the NI Veterans Commissioner’s Office and the NI Veterans’ Support Office.
6 December 2021
Royal Irish and Defence Forces Musicians Lift the Air of Albert
Royal Irish and Defence Forces Musicians Lift the Air of Albert

Photos by John O’Byrne

Last updated 14:03 29 November 2021

Following the commemoration service at Thiepval to mark the centenary of the Ulster Memorial Tower on Friday, the combined bands of the Royal Irish Regiment Bugles, Pipes and Drums and Regimental Band, and the Irish Defence Forces 2nd Brigade Band played a concert at Basilique Notre-Dame de Brebières, Albert. Conducted by WO1 Richard Douglas MBE, Royal Irish Regiment and Capt. Tom Kelly, 2nd Brigade, guests were treated to a lively and solemn selection of Irish tunes, regimental marches and Great War era music.

Video by Terry Healy
March Militaire, Gael Force, Path to Peace, Star of County Down, Keep the Home Fires Burning, Regimental March of the Royal Irish Rifles, and Fáinne Geal An Lae, are just a few of the tunes that enchanted the audience. The mezzo-soprano and alto Emma Brown performed a beautiful recital of Danny Boy. In Irish tradition the pipes were sounded for the grande finale and the Pipes and Drums marched through the Basilique and up the streets of Albert to the regimental march Killaloe.

In Irish tradition the pipes were sounded for the finale and the Pipes and Drums marched through the Basilique and up the streets of Albert to the regimental march Killaloe.

From l-r: Paul Givan MLA, First Minister of Northern Ireland; Claude Cliquet, Lord Mayor of Albert; Valérie Saintoyant, Sous-préfète; Carol Walker MBE, Director of Somme Association; Major General C R J Weir DSO MBE, Colonel The Royal Irish Regiment.
20 November 2021
Ulster Tower Centenary Commemorated in France

Ulster Tower Centenary Commemorated in France

Photos by John O’Byrne

Updated 13:07, 24 November 2021

The centenary of the Ulster Memorial Tower was commemorated this morning in Northern France.

Inaugurated on 19 November 1921, the Ulster Tower at Thiepval on the Somme commemorates the sacrifice of soldiers from Ulster and across the island of Ireland during the First World War. The Ulster Tower stands on the ground attacked at great cost by the 36th (Ulster) Division on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916.

The combined musicians of the Bugles Pipes and Drums, Regimental Band of the Royal Irish Regiment and the Irish Defence Forces 2nd Brigade Band, march on the standards provided by members of the Royal British Legion.

This morning’s commemoration was attended by dignitaries including First Minister of Northern Ireland Paul Givan MLA, Ireland’s Minister of State Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for EU Affairs Thomas Byrne TD, British Ambassador to France Her Excellency Menna Rawlings and Counsellor at the Irish Embassy in Paris Owen Feeney. The service was led by Rt. Rev. Dr. David Bruce, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; Rev. Dr. Sahr Yamhasu, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland; and The Most Revd. Francis John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh.

The ceremony was supported by the Bugles, Pipes and Drums and the Regimental Band of the British Army’s Royal Irish Regiment and by the 2nd Brigade Band of the Irish Defence Forces. The military musicians were accompanied by mezzo-soprano and alto Emma Brown who sung You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Following the ceremony First Minister Mr. Givan said: “It’s an honour for me to be here today on this historic occasion to mark 100 years of the Ulster Tower which memorialises the sacrifice that was made by the men of the 36th Ulster Division and remembers those who served from right across Ireland in the First World War.”

“The connections with the Ulster Division and the Irish Division is something that we always need to remember, where people stood side by side irrespective of their religion or indeed their identity, whether they were British or Irish, they shed blood together here in the trenches and stood in common cause for the freedoms that we enjoy today.”

Reiterating the importance of today’s commemoration Minister Thomas Byrne stated: “It is an honour to be here at the Ulster Tower. It is essential that we commemorate all those who died in battle during World War One, knowing that the soldiers that are commemorated here are from all nine counties of Ulster and many are from across the island of Ireland North and South fought in World War One and died in World War One. It is critical that we continue to honour their memories and to work always for peace and reconciliation both at home and indeed across the globe.

Today’s event was organised by the Somme Association, based in Newtownards, County Down, who are responsible for the maintenance of the Ulster Tower.

As the combined Royal Irish Regiment and Defence Forces bands marched from the Ulster Memorial Tower at the end of the centenary commemoration last week to the tune of On Raglan Road, it was a moment to reflect on the importance on the occasion. The Ulster Memorial Tower stands tribute to those from the province of Ulster, in particular to members of the 36th Ulster Division, who fought during the Great War and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Today it is sacred ground.

Ulster Tower Centenary Album

Ulster Tower Memorial Centenary 19 November 2021 Thiepval , France, Photos by John O’Byrne

19 November 2021
Athy Remembers its Great War Fallen
Athy Remembers its Great War Fallen

Photos by John O’Byrne

Around Ireland today communities gathered for Remembrance Sunday, to reflect and commemorate those from their area that served and lost their lives during the Great War 1914 – 1918. Today we attended the annual service at Old St. Michael’s Cemetery, Athy, County Kildare. During the Great War some 2,000 men and women from the town and surrounding area served; of these at least 290 lost their lives. Incredible considering the small size of the population at the time. One of those who served was Major John Vincent Holland VC. Their service, and Athy’s role during that period, are remembered in the Shackleton Museum. The work on Athy’s Great War service continues, with historians Clem Roche and Frank Taaffe endeavouring to ensure all those who served or lost their lives are remembered.

Thank you to Kildare County Council Heritage Office for their support.
15 November 2021
Tipperary Studies Launch Irish Great War Dead Archive

Tipperary Studies Launch Irish Great War Dead Archive

Armistice Day, 11 November, each year marks the ending of the Great War 1914 – 1918. Marking the day this year Tipperary Studies have launched a new digital archive dedicated to Ireland’s Great War dead: www.irelandsgreatwardead.ie. The archive contains a database of 31,384 war dead entries of servicemen and servicewomen from the 26 counties of the Rep. of Ireland, in so far as the information is known. Work continues to record the names of the Great War dead from the six counties in Northern Ireland. Expanding on the list of entries recorded in Ireland’s Memorial Records, the database gives added detail about family connections, residence, where such has been identified.

The archive is the work of military historian Tom Burnell. Tom has spent almost twenty years researching the Great War dead from Ireland and some added features of Tom’s research also includes contemporary press reports and death certificate information, where such was available to him. Tom offered this database of work to Tipperary Studies, to host, so that his research, the genealogical information and records therein would be available to a wider audience. There are various search options available, where people can use the search box to view specific entries and categories. Searches may also be filtered by Regiment or Service.

A map of the war dead graves in Tipperary, from the two World Wars, is also included. Tom has photographed all grave memorials, and coupled with directions to each site, they give a local aspect to his research. The website also includes a list of several online resources from Ireland and around the world, that will help users delve deeper into the Great War period.

Royal Irish Rifles ration party, Somme, July 1916.

The database begins with Lance Corporal John Abbey from Baltinglass, County Wicklow. Serving with 1st Battalion Irish Guards, he was killed in action at Givenchy on 8 August 1915. He is buried in the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, France.

The database ends with Rifleman Richard Zimber. Born in New Ross County Wexford, he served with 4th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps under the alias Richard Frederick Cairns. He was killed in action on 8 May 1915. He is listed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

We will remember them.

You can visit the website here: https://irelandsgreatwardead.ie/

On Sunday evening next, 14 November, both Tom Burnell and Pat Bracken will feature on The History Show, with Myles Dungan, to talk about the new website in a special Remembrance Sunday episode of the programme. The programme airs from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.

Located above the Source Library and Arts Centre, Thurles, Tipperary Studies is dedicated to documenting and preserving the County’s rich cultural, social, economic and sporting histories, and aims to offer open, friendly and easy access to the Library’s collections to visitors both in person and through correspondence.

11 November 2021
Recording Ireland’s Contribution to World Peace

Recording Ireland’s Contribution to World Peace

As part of a project to record Ireland’s contribution to world peace, we visited Post 11, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA), in the Curragh Camp Co. Kildare. There we met and spoke with Irish Defence Forces veterans Company Quartermaster Sergeant Tony O’Reilly, Sergeant Major John Murray, and Sergeant Denis Gratten; who between them served on 34 missions around the world. Both John and Denis are Kildare men all their lives, while Tony came to the Curragh in 1974 from Waterford and has called it his home ever since.

The three men have unique perspectives on service overseas due to their diverse skillsets including logistics, communications, and crime scene investigation. They served in missions such as: United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG); United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon; United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II); European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) Bosnia and Herzegovina; and with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan. It was remarkable to hear the evolution of peacekeeping and overseas operations spanning almost 50 years.
Even though retired the veterans of IUNVA are still giving back and helping in the local community and supporting veterans.

IUNVA Post 11 veterans Tony O’Reilly, Denis Grattan, and John Murray. Photo by John O’Byrne.

Thank you for your service.

This project is supported by Kildare County Council Heritage Office, Creative Ireland, Irish United Nations Veterans Association, the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, and the Association of Retired Commissioned Officers.

9 November 2021
Sergeant Matty Gardiner
Sergeant Matty Gardiner, 12th Infantry Battalion, Irish Defence Forces/Óglaigh na hÉireann

Born in 1943, Matty is a retired Sergeant from the 12th Infantry Battalion, Irish Defence Forces/Óglaigh na hÉireann in Limerick. He comes from a large military family whose service dates back to their grandfather, George, who served and died with the Royal Munster Fusiliers in World War 1. His father, Peter, served in the fledgling Irish National Army and Defence Forces. At one time eleven members of his family were serving in the 12th Infantry Battalion at the same time. Matt too has a distinguished service at home and on United Nations service. Matty completed several Untied Nations tours of duty: 38th Infantry Battalion, ONUC (Opération des Nations Unies au Congo in the Congo) (1962-63), the 40th Infantry Battalion, UNFICYP (United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus) (1964), and with the 24th Infantry Group, UNFICYP (1973). Thank you to the Patrick Sarsfield Branch, Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel Ireland for their support in this production.
- George Gardiner Royal Munster Fusiliers
- Peter Gardiner, Irish National Army
- Mathew Gardiner United Nations Peacekeeper
17 October 2021
Project Update – A Strong Voice for Veterans

Project Update – A Strong Voice for Veterans

Photos by John O’Byrne

For many veterans’ life after leaving the armed forces is challenging. Ensuring that all veterans receive the support and care they deserve is also a challenge. On the island of Ireland there are an estimated 150,000 and 20,000 British Armed Forces (Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy) veterans in Northern Ireland and the Rep. of Ireland respectively. As one of the commitments made in the New Decade New Approach political agreement, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, appointed Danny Kinahan as Northern Ireland’s first Veterans’ Commissioner.

The appointment of a Veterans Commissioner ensures that there is representation and a safe voice for veterans who often feel they have been forgotten, and have been largely underrepresented as a community for years. Danny and his team have been engaging with veterans’ charities on the island of Ireland with a clear message that there is help for veterans who need it. Over the past three months we have been working on a multimedia project with the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner’s Office (NIVCO). The purpose of this project is to highlight the NIVCO and the services they provide, while at the same time showcasing several of the veterans’ charities and the work they do on the island of Ireland. Some of these charities include: The Royal British Legion (Northern Ireland and Rep. of Ireland); The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA); The Not Forgotten Association; Decorum NI; and the UDR Regimental Association. As part of a North/South engagement the NIVCO team also met with the Irish Defence Forces veterans support charity The Organisation of National Ex-Personnel. The uniform may be different but the challenges are the same, collaboration and supporting one another is the solution. Each of these charities are unique and offer a variety of supports from welfare to outreach, drop-in centres and remembrance. SSAFA for example is the oldest veterans’ organisation. Founded in 1885, it provides lifelong support to serving men and women and veterans from the British Armed Forces and their families or dependents.

A new charity for our team is Decorum NI. It was a real pleasure to meet this group at their garden plots outside Bangor. Decorum NI helps combat isolation through a variety of ways including: alternative therapies, counselling, training, educational courses, sign posting to educational progression, and welfare advice. We are looking forward to meeting them again in the near future.

NI Veterans’ Commissioner Danny Kinahan with members of Decorum NI at their garden plots outside Bangor.

For a full list of supports and services available please visit: www.nivco.co.uk/where-to-get-help/

We will be updating you as this project develops.

Thank you to The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and the NI Veterans Commissioner’s Office. for their support.

5 October 2021
Veterans’ Support Recommences
Veterans’ Support Recommences

Photos by John O’Byrne

As Covid restrictions ease, veterans support has recommenced in person. Coinciding with the anniversary of the Defence Forces on 1 October, The Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE Ireland) invited veterans back to the much-loved coffee mornings in barracks and support centres throughout the country. The coffee mornings gives veterans a chance to meet, catch up and chat. They a very important part of support given by O.N.E. and the Defence Forces to veterans. We were delighted to attend the gathering in The Michael Collins Club, Cathal Brugha Barracks, where veterans honoured an old comrade.

Former 2nd Infantry Battalion Sergeant & Olympic Gold Medallist, Michael Carruth, was conferred as an Honorary Member of the Cathal Brugha Branch O.N.E. Also in attendance was Private Seán Mari from 7th Infantry Battalion & the Monkstown Boxing Club. Seán represented Óglaigh na hÉireann / Irish Defence Forces at the 58th CISM World Military Boxing Championship last week, reaching the quarter-finals and coming home with a Bronze Medal.

Presentations of donations for this year’s Fuchsia Appeal were made by the 2nd Infantry Battalion Association and veterans now working in ESB Networks.

Congratulations to all involved and please remember to support this year’s Fuchsia Appeal.
2 October 2021
Appointment of Defence Forces Chief of Staff

Appointment of Defence Forces Chief of Staff

Photos courtesy of Defence Forces Press Office

Yesterday the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence, Simon Coveney TD, appointed Lieutenant General Seán Clancy as the new Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces. Lieutenant General Seán Clancy joined the Irish Defence Forces in 1984 as a cadet and commenced his flight training in 1986.

He has flown both fixed and rotary wing aircraft and has accumulated nearly 5,000 flight hours. He is a qualified type and instrument-rating examiner, a qualified flight simulator instructor and has most recently held type, instrument and NVG ratings on the AW139. He spent a considerable period of his career as a Search and Rescue pilot and was the commander of the crew who received the Marine Medal for Meritorious Service in 2002.Lieutenant General Clancy has been a driver of change and a champion for innovation within the Defence Forces. He played a central role in the development of the Ireland’s first Emergency Aeromedical Service established in 2012. He has been a strong advocate for Leadership and was the co-author of the Defence Forces Leadership Doctrine published in 2016. He subsequently led the team who developed the current vision and values-based strategy for the Defence Forces post the publication of the White Paper on Defence.

He has served in appointments including Squadron Commander, Wing Commander, Senior Staff Officer Operations, Senior Staff Officer Personnel, Chief of Air Staff Support in Air Corps Headquarters and Director of Strategic Planning Branch, Chief of Staff’s Branch, Defence Forces Headquarters. Prior to promotion he served as Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) as well as General Officer Commanding, Irish Air Corps and Director of Military Aviation. He has served for a year with the European Union Force in Bosnia as the military advisor to the Force Commander and spent two years as a non-permanent member of SHIRBRIG, the UN standby Brigade.

Lieutenant General Seán Clancy

1 October 2021