Ireland's Military Story

Category: Irish Army

  • 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

    Noel with his wife Patsy. (Photo by Ken Mooney)

    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 McGivern had served during the War of Independence in County Down with the Irish Republican Army. Moving south he enlisted in the new National Army and served in the Curragh Camp. Noel was initially born in the Curragh 91 years ago. Moving to married quarters in Arbour Hill Daniel served with the 2nd and 5th Infantry Battalions. On the outbreak of the Emergency in 1939, he was transferred to the 11th Infantry Battalion in Greystones to help train the new entries.

    Noel in 1945 and later on UN service in Cyprus.

    Noel’s memories of life in Dublin during the Emergency were remarkable. Rationing was the order of the day but living in married quarters meant the army families could receive some extra rations from McKee Barracks. He remembered clearly the frightful early morning of 31 May 1941, when four Luftwaffe bombs fell on Dublin, one of which fell at the Dog Pond pumping works near the Zoo in Phoenix Park. This wasn’t all that far from Arbour Hill. Noel enlisted for the first time in 1945 near the end of the Emergency serving with the 2nd Infantry Battalion. He left the army in 1947 as the army was rapidly scaled down and went to England to work. Twelve years later Noel read in the news of the Irish Defence Forces deploying to the Congo on peacekeeping duties with the United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC: French: Opération des Nations Unies au Congo) and he headed for home. He was barely back in uniform and he was on a plane to the Congo to serve with the 34th Infantry Battalion – Jan 1961 – Jul 1961. He deployed a second time with the 36th Infantry Battalion – Dec 1961 – May 1962. Noel went on to complete two tours with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Back home Noel and Patsy lived in married quarters in Arbour Hill. As Patsy told us: ‘it was a great place to live. When Noel was overseas or on the border, everyone looked after each other’. Serving in Collins Barracks with the 5th Infantry Battalion Noel went on to carry out his duties until he retired in 1981 at the rank of Sergeant.

    Not forgetting his comrades Noel helped establish the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) and both himself and Patsy volunteered, until the present day, helping veterans in IUNVA. The two still live happily not far from Arbour Hill.

    Noel on service in Cyprus.

    If you know any Emergency veteran please do get in touch as it would be an honour to meet them and record their story.

  • In Defence of North Kildare

    In Defence of North Kildare

    In Defence of North Kildare

    Tony Maher recollects his time in the Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCÁ)

    Today we had the pleasure of meeting former reserve Corporal, Tony Maher from Celbridge. During the 1960s Tony was a member of Maynooth Platoon, C Company, 7th Infantry Battalion FCÁ.

    Tony Maher at his home in Celbridge. (Photo by Michael Coyne)

    During the Emergency period (1939 – 1946) and the Cold War (1947 – 1991) Ireland remained neutral, however, the threat was still real. During these two periods the reserve elements of the Irish Defence Forces were greatly expanded. Nearly every village in the country had a platoon size or more of reservists stationed there. Celbridge in North Kildare was no different. During the Emergency the North Dublin Battalion of the Local Defence Forces had a Company in North Kildare, with a platoon in Celbridge, Maynooth, and Kilcock. Following the Emergency and the establishment of Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCÁ), this transitioned to the North Dublin Battalion FCÁ and in 1959, C Company 7th Infantry Battalion FCÁ.

    At the time Tony lived in Lexlip and told us some amazing stories of Lexlip and the surrounding areas in the 1950s and 1960s. Tony grew up not far from where Sergeant Hugh Gaynor lived and had very fond memories of him. Sadly Sergeant Gaynor was one of the nine Irish peacekeepers killed in the Niamba ambush in the Belgium Congo on 8 November 1960.

    Tony’s rifle trophy.

    The reservists met several evenings during the week and at the weekends. The headquarters for the C Company platoons were as follows: the Methodist Church (now Cunninghams Funeral Directors), Celbridge; the town hall in Maynooth; and the old church off the centre in Kilcock. Life in the reserve infantry back then was defined by marching and the .303″ Lee-Enfield rifle, which Tony remembers like it was yesterday. He proudly still has his rifle competition trophies. Drill, local exercises, training in Gormanstown and the Glen of Imaal, St. Patrick’s Day Parades, and 1916 commemorations were the annual routine. Thankfully Tony was an avid photographer and he has kept a remarkable collection of the reservists in North Kildare.

    Movie star Tony in German uniform on the set of the Blue Max 1965.

    It wasn’t all drill and more drill. During this time the FCÁ got called upon to provide extras for the movie the Blue Max; directed by John Guillermin and starring George Peppard, James Mason, Ursula Andress, Karl Michael Vogler, and Jeremy Kemp.. During 1965 Tony found himself in a German World War I uniform and charging across no-man’s land in the Wicklow mountains. Tony managed to smuggle his camera on set.

    Tony’s story has been recorded as part of Kildare’s Veterans’ and ex-service personnel Story. This project is supported by Kildare County Council and Creative Ireland.

    The history of a lot of these reserve units has been lost. We are tying to build up the history of the reserve in North Kildare and would really like to talk to members of C Company. Please drop us a line.

  • Dublin Port’s Emergency Story: LDF Veteran – Oliver Joseph Doyle

    Dublin Port’s Emergency Story
    LDF veteran – Oliver Joseph Doyle

    Oliver is seen here with his daughter Rita in Lucan Lodge Nursing Home. (Photograph by Michael Coyne)


    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 the Emergency he served with the Local Defence Force (LDF). He first served with an infantry unit based in the RDS before transferring to an anti-aircraft unit in Ringsend.


    The anti-aircraft positions around Dublin were vital to the defence of Dublin Port. Oliver told us that his father, Mathew Doyle, also served with the Maritime Inscription and LDF in Dublin Port.

    Thank you to Lucan Lodge Nursing Home for facilitating our meeting today.

  • Dublin Port’s Emergency Story

    Dublin Port’s Emergency Story

    Dublin Port’s Emergency Story

    An Irish Army 3.7 Inch Anti-Aircraft Gun

    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 from this period in your family that served in the Dublin area either with the Irish Army, Marine Service/Inscription, Air Corps, Local Defence Force, Local Security Force, Air Raid Warden or St. John Ambulance please do get in touch. We would like to record as many of these stories as possible before they are lost to time.

    Although Ireland declared neutrality it did not escape the war. Members of the Defence Forces, emergency services, and Merchant Navy risked their lives to ensure Ireland and its citizens were defended and supplies kept coming in. Anti-Aircraft batteries, coastal artillery, and coastal Look Out Posts became a common feature around the country. Naturally Dublin – the capital – and its port were vital to Ireland’s survival. The war came directly to the Irish people more than once. On several occasions Luftwaffe aircraft jettisoned their bombs after getting lost on their way to targets in Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom. Probably the most significant attack in Dublin came on the night of 31 May 1941, when four high-explosive bombs were dropped by Luftwaffe aircraft on the North Strand area of Dublin City. Twenty-eight people were killed and 90 more were injured in the blast. Some 400 people were left homeless.

    This image shows the destruction on North Strand.

    We’d love to hear from you if you have a story you’d like to tell.Please Share this post with your friends.

    Images with thanks to: Military Archives, Air Corps Museum, Dublin City Archives, and the Independent Newspapers Ireland/NLI collection.

  • The National Day of Commemoration – Collins Barracks, Dublin

    The National Day of Commemoration – Collins Barracks, Dublin

    The National Day of Commemoration – Collins Barracks, Dublin

    Photographs by Ken Mooney

    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 Collins Barracks, Dublin. It comprises of a multi-faith service of prayer and military ceremony commemorating all those Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations.

    During the ceremony the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar invited President Michael D. Higgins to lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Ireland. Other invited guests include members of the Government, Council of State, elected Representatives, Diplomatic Corps, Judiciary, relatives’ of 1916 participants and a large number of Veterans’ Organisations.

    Smaller ceremonies were held around the country.

  • Veterans Parade at Military Show in Naas

    Veterans Parade at Military Show in Naas

    Veterans Parade at Military Show in Naas

    Photos by Roy Gallagher

    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

    Celbridge LDF circa 1941/1942. (Image courtesy of George Bagnall)

    We are currently researching for an upcoming project focusing on the military story of Celbridge, County Kildare.

    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; a company of Irish Volunteers was formed in 1914; local Irish Volunteer and IRA units were also active from 1919 – 1923; on the outbreak of the Emergency in 1939 a unit of the Local Defence Force (LDF) was formed. The Celbridge LDF company morphed into a company of the North Dublin Battalion on the formation of the Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCÁ) in the late 1940s. The North Dublin Battalion eventually became the 7th Infantry Battalion FCÁ, of which C Company was in North Kildare with platoons in Celbridge, Maynooth, and Kilcock. The unit remained active in Celbridge until the 1980s.

    As part of our upcoming project – Celbridge’s Military Story – we are very interested to meet military veterans in the area, especially those who served in the Celbridge LDF and FCÁ.
    Please Share this post

    This project is supported by Kildare County Council Heritage Office.

  • 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 of National Ex-Servicemen and Women (ONE), the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA), the Association of Retired Officers (ARCO), and the battalion and regimental associations.

    A wreath was laid in memory of those who had lost their lives in service to their country.

  • Reserve Celebrate 90 Years

    Reserve Celebrate 90 Years

    Celebrations in Collins Barracks for 90 Years of the Reserve

    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 opened up to the general public for part time military training was in 1929 with the formation of the Volunteer Reserve Force. This was followed shortly by the Officer Training Corps with units established in several universities around the country. With Fianna Fáil taking power in 1932 a new force was established in 1934 – The Volunteer Force. Members and supporters of Fianna Fáil were encouraged to join; many had fought in the Civil War on the anti-treaty side.
    The Volunteer Force was an all-arms undertaking with a high level of training for officers and NCO’s. it peaked at a strength of 10,578 in April 1935. On 1 September 1939 its strength was 257 officers and 6,986 other ranks. Interestingly the force was territorially organised in regiments such as The Regiment of Oriel; The Regiment of Leinster; and the The Regiment of Dublin. The Regiment of Pearse was added in 1935.

    With the outbreak of World War II and Emergency was declared and the permanent and reserve elements of the Defence Forces were expanded quickly. The Local Security Force (LSF) amd the Local Defence Force (LDF) were established to help with the war effort. This expansion resulted in numbers never seen before or since in the establishment of the Irish Army. In 31 March, 1941, the regular force peaked at 41,463, while in June 1943 the LDF reached its highest enlistment number of 103,530. Many photographs of the period show pre-war officers and soldiers, Volunteer reservists, and Emergency enlistment soldiers wearing and carrying their respective equipment. During this period a reserve element for the Marine Service was established called The Maritime Inscription.

    Members of Local Defence Force marching through Dublin.
    Special reserve edition of An Cosantóir

    Following the end of hostilities in 1945, the Emergency Defence Forces were demobilised. In 1946and 47 all pre-existing reserve forces were disestablished. The reserve element was reconstituted into the First Line Reserve (former permanent personnel) and the Second Line Reserve – An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCÁ) (Local Defence Force) which was made up of part time volunteers. An Slua Muirí became the maritime reserve component of the Naval Service. The period 1959 – 1979 was known as ‘integration’ whereby the Defence Forces was structured in six brigades regular and FCÁ. This of course was during the Cold War and the structure allowed the Defence Forces to mobilise quickly if needed. Throughout this period the reserve played a prominent role in supporting their regular counterparts who were increasingly called upon during the Troubles.

    In 2005 An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and An Slua Muirí were stood down and reconstituted into the Reserve Defence Force (na hÓglaigh Cúltaca) consisting of the Army and Naval Reserve. Initially the reserve was organised in their own units with parent regular units to which they would train with and support. In 2013 the ‘Single Force Concept’ was introduced whereby RDF sub-units would now be attached to PDF Army units. Throughout its history the reserve has always relying upon volunteers who give up their free time to support the Permanent Defence Forces and conduct duties around the country when called upon.

    Image of the parade marking the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Reserve Defence Forces in Collins Barracks. The parade was inspected by the Minister of State with Responsibility for Defence Paul Keogh.

    The RDF are currently recruiting. If you fancy a part time carrier in the Army or Navy check out a unit near you.

  • 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 Battalion. There to meet Ned ware Lt Col Frank Flannery, O/C 1st Infantry Battalion (1 Cn Cois), veterans and members of his family. To mark the occasion members of 1 Cn Cois paid tribute to the guest of honour with a Guard of Honor and a tour of the the barrack’s museum where Ned reminisced over photographs dating back to the Emergency period. He was then invited to the Officer’s Mess for a birthday celebration.

    Birthday celebrations in Renmore Barracks.

    Ned Cusack was born on 1 March, 1919. Growing up in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, he joined the Defence Forces after completing his Leaving Certificate. Ned began his military career with the 12th Cadet Class. The following year with war clouds gathering, the cadets were put through intensive training. On commissioning Ned was posted to 1st Infantry Battalion in Galway, where he would spend a large part of his career. The battalion and Galway became his home. For the duration of the Emergency period the Ned and his unit were on a ‘war footing’. In 1940 he met Eileen, who he married in 1944. Following the intense years of the Emergency Ned went on to serve with the 5th Infantry Battalion in Collins Barracks, OC 20th Infantry Battalion FCÁ and OC Griffith Barracks, Eastern Command HQ, and with the United Nations in Cyprus. He retired from Army service in November 1977 and took up the appointment of Manager of Galway Fishery. Retiring in 1986, Ned lives today with Eileen in Moycullen, Co. Galway. Ned and Eileen have seven children, ten grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren.

    Ned wrote about his experiences in the Emergency in three issues of Ireland’s Military Story in 2016 and 2017.