An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 5 Manager Comdt David McKnight info@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5306 Editor Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald magazine@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 Connect Sgt Karl Byrne connect@military.ie Photo/Journalist Cpl Lee Coyle journalist@military.ie Photographer Armn Sam Gibney photo@military.ie Subscriptions Cpl Martin Bennett +353 (0)45 44 5312 subs@military.ie DF/PR Information Cpl Danny Maloney admin@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5308 DF Webmaster Sgt Mick Burke +353 (0)45 44 5309 webmaster@military.ie Magazine Archivist Mr Sean Shinnors Designer/Advertising JM Publishing & Media, Arklow, Co. Wicklow,Ireland Tel: +353 15331911 Tel: +353871344135 Web: www.jmpublishing.ie Email: info@jmpublishing.ie Printer Turner's Printing Co., Ltd Earl Street, Longford, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)43 3350500 The fact that an article appears in this magazine does not indicate official approval of the views expressed by the author. © Published by OiC Public Relations Branch for the Defence Forces at DFHQ, Block 5, Ceannt Bks, DFTC, Curragh Camp, Co Kildare, Ireland. Tel: +353 (0)45 445312 Front Cover Photo by Sgt Karl Byrne, PR Branch For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www.flickr.com/photos/ dfmagazine Editorial H ello and welcome to our October issue, in our main feature, Pte Finn McHale gives us an insight into three star training in the Army reserve, their training took place over two intense weeks in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa Bks, Galway hosted by 1 Inf Bn. This month we have 16 Articles, ranging from individual sporting achievements to historical landmark achievements on a world scale. Our first In Focus piece is a look at the life of Father David Murphy in From the Trenches to the Pulpit, who began army life as a Pte, got promoted to Cpl and left the army to join the priest hood, and is now back serving the Defence Forces as an Army Priest. The second In Focus piece is brought to us by Lorcan Barron, about the motorsport career of Gnr Lee Bracken, who went from photographing rally events to competing in them. Our Veterans News remembers the 50th anniversary of Tpr Michael Kennedy, who started his career in 1 ACS Plunkett Bks in 1966 but sadly died 3 years later in a tragic accident while serving his country overseas. Our first feature is a double on Athletics, the first of which describes what its like to be a sprint athlete of the Defence Forces by Comdt Ruaidhri Kedney in A Sprinters Tale, the second part of the feature is a report by Cpl Martin Bennett on the recent All Army Athletics events held in Waterford back in August. In our second feature article 95th Cadet class gives us a look at one of there many weeks of training as they braved the various tasks involved in adventure training in Galway. This is followed by a piece on the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Convention in 'Back from the Abyss – seventy years later, by Lt Col Richard Brennan. In Pick up the Pace!, Lt Fergal Fitzgerald (AR) details the 4 day marching event 'Vierdaagse (4 daagse) in Nijmegen, from training here at home to the event itself in the Netherlands. A gruelling event but a great insight for anyone considering competing next year. Moving onto page 20 Comdt Kevin McDonald (ret'd) brings us his second part of Peacekeeping on the Edge OGL and the 2006 War, the article concludes in this issue and is 'dedicated to the memory of those who paid the ultimate price'. Our Tac Aide this month by Áine Carroll explains the various steps needed to obtain a mortgage in today's market. Our first history article takes us back to 1916 in Trinity College 1916: what might have been, as a small garrison defended Trinity College, told by Dr Rory Sweetman. Our second history article by Pte Terence O'Reilly, looks at the history of the now disbanded 5 Inf Bn, who many of it's members are still serving in various units across the Defence Forces today. Lt O'Hare brings us a very interesting article about the workings of suppressors in The Sound of Silence(rs). Moving onto our Sport features, firstly Capt Deirdre Newell tells us of her courageous swim across the English Channel. Next CQMS Deirdre O'Raw recalls her 13km swim for the Frances Thornton Memorial Galway Bay swim. Our final feature, What I Do looks into the working life of an instructor in the IWW from Sgt Karl Johnston. We also have our regular features: Gear Review, Noticeboard, Book Reviews and Pro Tac Competition. Sgt Karl Byrne – Editor Competition Winner The winner of last month's competition for a CD from Defence Forces Veteran Gabby Fitzgerald was John Martin, Co. Kildare.

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