An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 23 DUAIS AN ARDMHÉARA BY CAPT ANTÓINE Ó BEOLÁIN (AR), 2I/C D COY, 7 INF BN "This is your city and you are Dublin's Battalion. As the First Citi- zen of this great city I want to welcome you here today". These were the words of the outgoing lord mayor of Dublin, Nial Ring, when he formally welcomed 7 Infantry Battalion to the Mansion House in May of this year; the first time in memory that a serving infantry unit of Óglaigh na hÉireann had been invited to the Mansion House by a sitting lord mayor. Addressing the troops in the Oak Room of the historic Mansion House, in this the 100th anniversary year of the first Dáil Éireann, Ardmhéara Ring recalled, with great detail and humour, historic events related to the city and the office of lord mayor, from the formation of the office up to the present. Evidence of the histori- cal nature of the position is highlighted in the fact that the official chain of office worn today by Ardmhéara Ring was presented to the office by King William of Orange in 1698. Ardmhéara Ring's grandfather and granduncles fought in the 1916 Rising, his father served during the Emergency and was the first commanding officer of Complacht na bhFíann, the first all-Irish FCÁ unit, which the current lord mayor himself joined in 1974. He is proud of his family's history and a huge supporter of the Defence Forces. Although 7 Inf Bn is a relatively new unit, it has inherited, through the units from which it was formed, a long tradition of involvement with Dublin above and beyond the normal security and ceremonial duties. Unit personnel voluntarily support many charitable activities such as Our Lady's Hospice 'Light the Light' ceremony at Christmas; 'Eric's Party' in the GPO (which provides Christmas dinner to some of the city's homeless); and the annual Cultural Night; as well as helping with fundraising and support for many other charities and events. Given the above, it is no wonder that the lord mayor expressed a desire to encourage the relationship between the citizens of Dublin and their infantry unit. To this end, after accepting a reciprocal invitation from Lt Col Seán Ó Fátharta (OC 7 Inf Bn) to visit the battalion in Cathal Brugha Bks, Ardmhéara Ring commissioned a special award to present on the day. Speaking at that presentation, the lord mayor reiterated his pride in 7 Inf Bn and the Defence Forces and their contribution to the state and the city of Dublin. Lt Col Ó Fátharta thanked the lord mayor for his support for the unit, for hosting them in the Mansion House, and for the award. The custom-made award, Duais an Ardmhéara, consists of the coat of arms of the lord mayor of Dublin and the 7 Inf Bn crest on either side of the Defence Forces crest on an Irish oak mount. The intention is that the award will be competed for annually by permanent and reserve members of 7 Inf Bn, with the award being presented to the winning team or in- dividual by the serving lord mayor. In turn, Lt Col Ó Fátharta presented Lord Mayor Ring with a seven-year service medal, which the lord mayor had earned during his service with the FCÁ but had not received. Ardmhéara Ring expressed his gratitude and said he would be proud to wear the medal. The Lord Mayor's Award Members of 7 Inf Bn in the Oak Room of the Mansion House with Lord Mayor Nial Ring. Representatives of 7 Inf Bn in the Officers' Mess, Cathal Brugha Bks, for the presentation of Duais an Ardmhéara. Lt Col O'Fátharta presents Ardmhéara Ring with his FCÁ service medal. Duais an Ardmhéara.

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