An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir October 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS BY CHARLES MOTT, NATIONAL SECRETARY IUNVA REMEMBERING TROOPER MICHAEL KENNEDY M ichael Kennedy was born in October 1949 and grew up in Offaly side Portarlington. He was edu- cated at Saint Patrick's NS and afterwards started an apprenticeship to become an electrician. At 17 he decided to change career, heading to the Curragh in December 1966 to join the Defence Forces. Michael was continuing a family con- nection with the army, as his father had served in the Cavalry Corps during the Emergency. On completion of recruit training in the General Training Depot, Michael was assigned to 1 Armoured Car Squadron, Plunkett Barracks, where he completed driving and gunnery courses and qualified as a crewman on the Panhard AML 60 armoured car. In March 1969 he deployed as a member of the Armoured Car Group, 12 Infantry Group, with the United Nations Peace- keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Like so many of his com- rades, he was a teenage soldier, on his first overseas mission, carrying out his duty trying to keep the peace between Greek Cypriots and their Turkish Cypriot neighbours on that troubled Mediterranean island. Michael died in a drowning accident at Famagusta on 1 July 1969, while serving his country and the cause of peace. On Sunday 7 July 2019 members of Trooper Michael Ken- nedy's family were joined by serving Defence Forces person- nel, members of IUNVA, ONE, 2 Cavalry Squadron Veterans Association, and the Glengarry Club, to mark the 50th anniver- sary of his death. Mass was celebrated at St Michael's Church, Portarlington, where the celebrants were Fr Tom Dooley PP and Fr Fergus O'Connor PP of Our Lady Queen of Peace parish, Merrion Road, Dublin 4. Father O'Connor is a former cavalry commandant who also served with UNFICYP, with the Armoured Car Group, 13 Infantry Group. As a young second lieutenant, he was the person who, in July 1969, brought the tragic news to Michael's father, Harry (who had lost his wife in childbirth in 1958), and Michael's siblings, younger brother, Harry, and sisters Patricia, Ann, Jean and Claire. During the Mass a colour party from IUNVA Post 27 (Portlao- ise) rendered military honours at the Consecration and musi- cians from the DF School of Music played the salute. Among the congregation was Coy Sgt Jim Casey (ret'd), National Chairman IUNVA, who had pulled Michael from the water in Famagusta, and who, along with a Greek Cypriot doc- tor, had tried valiantly, but unsuccessfully, to resuscitate the young Irishman. After Mass wreaths were laid at Michael's grave, while Sgt Anthony Byrne (ret'd), from the IUNVA pipe band played a lament. Last post and reveille were then played by a DF bugler before Sgt Byrne played the national anthem. A framed copy of the poem 'A Soldier' was presented to the family by Denis Farrell on behalf of Post 27, and Patricia Carroll, speaking on behalf of the Kennedy family, thanked the Defence Forces and mem- bers of Post 27 for organising the ceremony and for remem- bering her brother. It was good to see serv- ing and retired DF personnel and the veterans associations working together to remember Michael, as it is very important that we do not forget our fallen. Refreshments, courtesy of Post 27, were served after- wards in the Portarlington Community Hall. This allowed everyone to interact and meet up with former comrades and friends. Trooper Michael Kennedy (left) in the turret of an armoured car, with Sgt Vinnie Bradley (car commander) and Tpr Tommy Kenny (driver), leaving Gp HQ camp at Xeros. Photo: Military Archives. Members of IUNVA, ONE, 2 Cav Sqn Veterans Assoc, and the Glengarry Club, at the graveside. Photo: Martin Rowe, IUNVA Post 27. A photograph of Tpr Kennedy and his medals were placed on the altar. The medals were framed by Fred O'Reilly (Post 27) and had been presented to the family at Post 27's offices in the RDF building, Portlaoise. Photo: Martin Rowe, IUNVA Post 27.

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