An Cosantóir

5 EDITORIAL Comdt Helen Hosback info@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5306 Sgt Karl Byrne (Stand in) connect@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 Cpl Lee Coyle (Overseas) journalist@military.ie A/M Sam Gibney photo@military.ie Cpl Martin Bennett subs@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5312 Mr Seán Shinnors Tony O'Brien Provided by Lt David Franklin from the article Under Golan Skies JM Publishing & Media Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Ireland Tel: +35315331911 Email: info@jmpublishing.ie www.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 Vacant Vacant admin@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5308 webmaster@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5309 MANAGER: EDITOR: PHOTO/JOURNALIST: PHOTOGRAPHER: ADMIN NCO: MAGAZINE ARCHIVIST: CIVILIAN JOURNALIST: FRONT COVER DESIGNER/JOURNALIST:: DF/PR INFORMATION CPL: DF WEBMASTER: Hello, and welcome to our fifth issue of 2021, our 81st volume of the An Cosantóir magazine. This issue sees us moving into the end of the 3rd quarter of the year, with children going back to school, life moves on and moves forward as does military life. Our Noticeboard page features a short piece on the Baldonnel Male Voice Choir group by Col Sean O'Keeffe (Retd). They will be conducting open auditions in September if it interests you. On Parade features pictures from the Defence Forces Flickr page, ranging from a recent ARW exercise involving a civilian passenger ship on a visit to the overseas mission in UNIFIL's 118th Infantry Battalion. Our first feature is an interview with a previous OC of PR Branch, Col Mick Dawson (Retd), he talks about his career from start to end, talking about the units he's served in, people he has worked with and overseas missions he's served in. Moving on to our second feature article 'Under Golan Skies' by Lt David Franklin, David talks about the mission in southwestern Syria, from pre- deployment to the mission on the ground itself. 'The Irish in the Spanish Civil War' is an article by Dr Rory Finegan (Comdt Retd) inspired by the book 'The International Brigades: Fascism, Freedom & the Spanish Civil War' by Giles Tremlett. This is an interesting piece of history that many in Ireland may have forgotten about or may not have known. Our 'From the Archives' pages looks back at an article about the Equitation School by Cpl Willie Braine in the September Issue (No.7), Volume 57 of An Cosantóir from 1997. Archivist Linda Hickey of Military Archives provides us with a look back at the battle of Jadotville, which is coming up on its 60-year anniversary in September, a heroic battle fought by brave men of the Irish Defence Forces. Commander Anthony Heery provides us with an article on the Eunavfor Med Operation IRINI, an insightful look at the make-up of the mission, who's involved and what their taskings were during his deployment to the mission area. Raising KIDAL by Comdt Kieran Woulfe, reports on his mission to EUTM Mali. Comdt Woulfe provides us with information on the mission itself and the other Irish contingent that he worked with on the training mission. Our DF Podcast feature is taken from an interview with Minister for Defence Simon Coveney TD. The interview covers subjects like the Commission on Defence, the relationship between the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence and many other subjects. As always, we have our regular features including the return of Sgt Mick Lennon with his Strengthening the Nation Military Fitness feature. PSS continue providing vital mental health advice in Headspace and Timing as well as our Internal Comms piece for all the serving soldiers who read the magazine. Request for Information I am creating a pictorial chronology of Women in the Defence Forces to mark 40 years of service. While the book will be predominately a photographic record, I'd also like to include some vignettes and anecdotal records of life in DF. Anybody who would like to be included in the book is strongly encouraged to make contact with me via renken91@gmail.com. The book will feature the following topics - though this list is not exhaustive - early days following the foundation of the State, the Army Nursing Corps, change in legislation during the late 1970s, first eight cadets, first platoon, first apprentices, second platoon, integrated training from 1994, overseas, sport, family service (siblings, parent/daughter) and present day. I will need and would greatly appreciate members of the first two platoons from 1981 and 1990 to get in touch to educate me on their experiences, as having joined in 94 myself, I am somewhat familiar with life in DF since then! I would also like access to photos from those early days if people can share with me and I will conduct interviews with volunteers who are keen to be featured. This will be a publication that we can all take pride in and be a part of, so I really would urge people to get in touch. My publication date is aimed at mid-summer and by then hopefully we can hold an event to celebrate 40 years without Covid-19 spoiling play. Thanks in advance. «It ain't where you start in life, it's where you end up, and what you did along the way» – General Colin Powell Sgt Karl Byrne – (Stand-in) Editor Sgt Rena Kennedy Vacant

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