An Cosantóir

EDITORIAL Comdt David McKnight info@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5306 Sgt Karl Byrne (Stand in) magazine@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 Cpl Lee Coyle (Overseas) journalist@military.ie Armn Sam Gibney photo@military.ie Mr Seán Shinnors Irish Troops in the Congo in 1961 Photographer unknown JM Publishing & Media Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Ireland +35315331911 info@jmpublishing.ie 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 Cpl Martin Bennett subs@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5312 Vacant Vacant admin@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5308 webmaster@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5309 MANAGER: EDITOR: PHOTO/JOURNALIST: PHOTOGRAPHER: MAGAZINE ARCHIVIST: FRONT COVER DESIGNER/JOURNALIST:: SUBSCRIPTIONS: DF/PR INFORMATION: DF WEBMASTER: Hello and welcome to our Eighth and final issue of 2020, continuing with our 80th volume – the historic milestone the An Cosantóir magazine has reached. As we come to the end of what has been a very hard year for everyone with Covid-19 starting and stopping the country, the magazine has come to its final issue of 2020. In keeping with the magazine's traditions throughout the years, we look back at a major incident in Irish military history: The Niemba Ambush. We have a 4-page feature on the massacre, which took place 60 years ago this year. Our first piece on the set list is about the previous editor of An Cosantóir, Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald on page 10. With Wayne moving back to the Air Corps, we decided to take this opportunity in the final issue of 2020 to thank him for his service and dedication to An Cosantóir and PR Branch for nearly a decade. The 58th Cadets Class Naval Cadets Commissioning dominates pages 12 - 15, the 4 Cadets were commissioned in Haulbowline Naval Base back on the 10 September 2020, congratulations to the newly promoted officers of the Irish Naval Service. Sgt David Graham (AR) of the UNTSI School, gives us an insight into the advantages using interpreters on overseas missions, in particular where engaging with the local population is a necessary part of your mission. To read more on the use of Language Assistants go straight to pages 16 & 17 to read «Making Your Words Hit the Mark». Finishing off the first half of the magazine, our new and now resident journalist, Tony O'Brien, spoke Lt Col Kieran Carey on his deployment as unit Commander to UNDOF. This is an interesting look at how the form up for the mission went and the restrictions that Covid 19 imposed on the mission leading up to its deployment. Our front cover article, Niemba Ambush – 60 Years on by Tony O'Brien, looks back on one the most tragic losses of life in the Irish Republic's military history. If you have never heard the story of the Niemba Ambush, then you may not understand the sacrifice that soldiers travelling to Congo faced. 60 years on from Ireland's first deployment of troops with a UN force overseas, we salute the fallen of 33 Bn ONUC. In 25 Years of Females in the Navy, Tony O'Brien spoke with Lt Commander Orlaith Gallagher about her time in the Naval Service, from when she first joined back in 1995 to the present day, incorporating the induction of the first female recruits and all the firsts for females in the Navy over the past 25 years. In our very own Cpl Martin Bennett's first article for An Cosantóir, Choose your suffering, he spoke to Capt Gearoid O'Brien of the Air Corps, who has travelled the world competing in adventure sports and races. Irish Times journalist and author Ronan McGreevy kindly gave us permission to republish his article about Irishman John Hemmingway, who is now the last survivor of the Second World War 'Few'. In which he speaks to John about his life and his battles in the sky with the German Luftwaffe. Our other features include articles about Comdt Paddy Murphy who originally set up the An Cosantóir 10k road race. Dermot Behan speaks of his charitable endeavour for the Laura Lynn charity by climbing Ireland's 50 highest peaks in 50 weeks. SCPO Ruairí De Barra informs us of the Naval Service's Fleet Support group. And finally in our newly adapted feature from the What I Do we have Cpl Martin Bennett's interview with PTI Sgt Michael Lennon. Our Curragh Pens competition continues this month which is running for a limited time and could see you win 1 of 5 unique handcrafted pens, kindly provided to us by Bill Dooley of Curragh Pens - see page 4 for further details. Many thanks to all our contributors and we hope to continue producing the magazine into 2021 we know you've enjoyed through the years. «When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.» – Henry Ford Vacant

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