An Cosantóir

40 Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE) provides Support, Comradeship, Advocacy and Remembrance (SCAR) for Irish Veterans. The Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen was formed at the Mansion House in Dublin in 1951. It brought together the National Federation of Irish Ex-Servicemen and the Association of Regular Ex-Servicemen which had emerged following demobilisation after the Emergency. ONE was strictly non-political and non-sectarian, and it remains so today. Lieutenant General Michael Joe Costello, the founder of An Cosantóir, was elected the organisation's first president. On the inception of the unified body there were approximately 180,000 ex- service personnel in Ireland, General Costello sent this message to all ex-servicemen: "It is important that we remember what brings us together – what interest we have in common. It is quite simply the common bond of past service in Ireland in her armed forces. We are old comrades in arms wishing to maintain and strengthen old associations and traditions." Service matters ONE believes that service matters, be it one or forty years. ONE defines a military veteran as one who has served at least one year and has been honourably discharged. Membership is open to Permanent Defence Forces (PDF), Reserve Defence Forces (RDF), An Slua Muirí, An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCÁ), Maritime Inspection, Local Defence Force (LDF), Local Security Force (LSF), Coast Watching Service, Construction Corps, Irish Red Cross or Civil Defence and An Garda Síochána. The majority of the veterans that ONE helps are male. The newly appointed Gender, Diversity & Inclusion Advisor Deirdre Carbery (Capt Rtd) says that, "ONE have developed a new Diversity & Inclusion Strategy, consisting of measurable goals and objectives that will assist us in identifying the barriers to full & equal participation and any opportunities there are to develop specific services. As the first female to serve on the board she says, "We are committed to taking action to increase women's participation across the organisation and in identifying how we can better support the needs of women veterans." ONE recognise diversity & inclusion as an organisational priority and are embracing it in its most holistic sense; sex, age, ethnicity, gender & sexual orientation. Deirdre says the message is that "ONE values you and wants you as a member because you are unique and because together, we are stronger. By nurturing different perspectives, we will encourage open dialogue and new ideas in a trusting and respectful environment. That will enable us to connect with veterans across Ireland." ONE Branches While all ONE branches are open to any veteran member, there are three ONE branches with strong NS connections. We asked the incoming ONE President Dermot Higgins, who assumes office shortly, to tell us about its important work and its plans for the future. "There are 3 branches with a large NS connection. Cobh, Commander George Crosbie and the Erskine Childers Branch in Dublin. The Cobh branch is my home branch. "The Cdr Crosbie branch was founded in 1990. The Erskine Childers branch was set up in Dublin, and brought together former members living in the capital. It provides a link to continue their comradeship with former shipmates." Dermot describes just some of the incredible work and community engagement of his local ONE branch: "The Cobh branch is involved in a lot of events locally in the Cobh and greater East Cork area. We play a big part in commemorations of the Lusitania and Titanic disasters. The branch also plays a part in remembering those who lost their lives in the War of Independence, the Civil War and the Cork Harbour Tragedy. We also commemorate those lost in the Great War." As Dermot describes, all the branches are engaged in providing MULLINGAR TO MONROVIA – A SOLDIER'S MEMOIR REMEMBER THOSE WHO SERVED ONE Colour Party Gordon Kinsella. Photo by SCPO Gordon Kinsella ONE Chief Executive Ollie O'Connor and Irish United Nations Veterans Association member Paddy Gilford. Comrade Veterans. By NS Press Office Photos by NS Press Office Eddie McCarthy, Branch Treasurer; Diarmuid Higgins Branch Secretary; Mick McCarthy Branch President; Pat Feen Branch Chairman, outside the new hostel in Cobh. Photo: Dermot Higgins

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