An Cosantóir

16 SOME SAY THE DEVIL IS DEAD…… INTRODUCING THE NEW HEAD CHAPLAIN SOME SAY THE DEVIL IS DEAD…… INTRODUCING THE NEW HEAD CHAPLAIN Article and Photos By Paschal Hanrahan, HCF Those words appeared in a very warm and generous letter from Bishop Willie Walsh, releasing me from parish duties in West Clare and allowing me to answer my calling and desire to serve as an Army Chaplain with the Royal Army Chaplains Department (RAChD) and the RC Bishopric of the Forc - es. Bishop Willie knew of my interest in all things military and had previously support- ed my desire to minister as a chaplain, un- fortunately no vacancies existed in the DF Chaplaincy Service at that time. The letter was penned in July 2005 and now, almost 17 years later, and with a profound sense of humility, I have taken on the role of Head Chaplain to the Irish Defence Forces. But let's return to the beginning and those early days! Initial Training Notwithstanding my time with the FCA in my native Ennis, it required no less than 12 weeks of intensive training at both the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre, Amport House (Hampshire) and at the Royal Mili - tary Academy Sandhurst in Surrey to turn this West Clare curate into something ap- proaching a commissioned Army Chaplain. Colour Sergeant Cronin (now Major Cronin), an Irish Guards soldier on the Directing Staff, made a point of not showing any fa- vouritism to his fellow Irishman. I can still hear him shouting at me – your other left padre!! I did get my own back some years later during an International Military Pilgrim - age to Lourdes when I heard his voice in the confessional!! There were four other chaplains in my intake; an English Baptist, a Northern Irish Methodist, a Northern Irish Presbyterian, and a Free Church of Scotland minister! There has got to be a joke in there some - where!! I have to say one of the greatest blessings I have experienced over the years has been the friendships forged with both the denominational and multi faith col - leagues that I have been privileged to work with. There is a unity and a strength in diversity, and I have seen this in all aspects of military life. Queen's Royal Lancers to the Irish Guards My first assignment was with a recce unit the Queen's Royal Lancers, they were pre- paring for a tour of Iraq when I arrived. Training was arduous with many months of pre-deployment training overseas and away from families, and as I soon learned, dan - gerous. We lost one member of our Battle- group before we even got to Iraq. Nothing could have prepared me for the horrors of my first operational tour. I kept a journal, a habit from my days in May- nooth and one that I commend to you, for it is always good to try and articulate your thoughts and experiences to help process them. Looking through those pages today, I am amazed this naïve young chaplain survived. I can still hear the sounds and the St. Patrick's day in Afghanistan

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