An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 8 | THE 3RD MILITARY SEMINAR BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD T he 3rd Military Seminar opened in the Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge Co Kildare from 6th to 15th June 2019. On the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, Lt Col retired Dan Harvey launched his latest book 'A Bloody Dawn – The Irish at D-Day' by journalist and author Kevin Myers. On Thursday 13th, three talks took place covering a Luftwaffe bomber crash near Kiltealy Co Wexford in 1941, followed by fire and manoeuvre in the Boer War 1899 and then the War of Independence in Co Kildare. Then on Friday 14th, Comdt retired Leo Quinlan and son of Lt Col Patrick Quinlan OC A Coy, 35 Inf Bn, gave a memorable talk and PowerPoint display on the 'Heroes of Jadotville'. This was followed by the 'Battle of At Tiri', where I chaired a panel discussion with Irish veterans, Tom Jones and John O'Mahony. This truly was a once in a lifetime experience, to hear of a live action battle involving Irish peacekeepers from those that where there. Finally, on Saturday 15th a number of talks took place throughout the day. Talks included: Irish Neutrality in WWII; IRA Border Campaign 1956; Margaret Skinnider and the Easter Rising; The Irish at the Battle of Little Big Horn, from acclaimed authors such as Dr Myles Dungan, Dr Mary McAuliffe, Dr Ruan O'Donnell, Des Ekin, T. Ryle Dwyer, and Dr Leeann Lane. Congratulations and well done to all in the Riverbank Arts Centre and to Mario Corrigan, James Durney and Karel Kiely and the Kildare Decade of Commemorations Committee on an excellent seminar. The Hugh O'Flaherty Humanitarian Award BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD - PHOTOS: MARTIN ROWE, IUNVA O n 4th June 2019, Ireland's United Nations Peacekeepers were awarded the Hugh O'Flaherty Humanitarian Award for 2019 in St Mary's Church, Kenmare Place, Killarney, Co Kerry. Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty from Killarney served in the Vatican City during World War II, and helped Jews, Allied POWs and downed Allied airmen escaping the Nazi war machine by providing safe refuge within the Vatican. The 'Rome Escape Line' is credited with the securing the safety of 3,925 Allied POWs/Airmen from 25 different nationalities during the period September 1943 to June 1944, when the advancing Allied Forces liberated Rome. In 1945 the British Government awarded Monsignor O'Flaherty with a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) and in 1946 US President Harry S. Truman bestowed him with the US Medal of Freedom with Silver Palm. The Hugh O'Flaherty Memorial Society first presented the Hugh O'Flaherty Humanitarian Award in 2009 to GOAL aid workers Sharon Commins and Hilda Kawuki - who were kidnapped in north Darfur, Sudan. This is now the 11th year of the award. Major Gen Kieran Brennan, retired from the Defence Forces on 19th June 2019, we would like to wish him well in his retirement and congratulate him on an excellent career both on and off the field. Pictured accepting the award are IUNVA National Chairman Jim Casey, Brig Gen Paddy Flynn, GOC 1 Bde, Minister with Responsibility for Defence Paul Keogh TD, Chair of the Hugh O'Flaherty Society Jerry O'Grady, and DCOS Ops Major Gen Kieran Brennan. Members of IUNVA who are all UN Peacekeepers accepted the award along with members of the general staff. Veterans Tom Jones and John O'Mahony share their experiences of the Battle of At-Tiri. Leo Quinlan giving a memorable talk on the 'Heroes of Jadotville'

• Cover