An Cosantóir

EDITORIAL 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 Comdt Helen Hosback info@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5306 MANAGER: Sgt John Rossiter connect@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 EDITOR: A/M Sam Gibney photo@military.ie PHOTOGRAPHER: Mr Seán Shinnors MAGAZINE ARCHIVIST: Tony O'Brien CIVILIAN JOURNALIST: Provided By Military Archives FRONT COVER JM Publishing & Media Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)87 1344135 Email: info@jmpublishing.ie DESIGNER/ADVERTISING: Cpl Martin Bennett subs@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5312 ADMIN NCO: Cpl Eric Ryan magazine@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5308 DF/PR INFORMATION: Sgt Louise McDonald webmaster@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 DF WEBMASTER: journalist@military.ie PHOTO/JOURNALIST: Vacant Hello, and welcome to our special Centenary Edition, this is our 82nd volume of the An Cosantóir magazine. We hope you enjoy reading this special edition. We would like to thank each and every person who helped contribute towards creating this edition. 2022 was a significant year for the Defence Forces, as it marked 100 years since the takeover of military establishments from the British Forces. These handovers represented a visible withdrawal of British Forces from long occupied locations throughout the newly emerging state and signified the physical conclusion of the struggle of the most recent iteration, the struggle for independence, which commenced with the foundation of the Irish Volunteers, precursor to the Defence Forces, in 1913. In the intervening period until 1922, the likelihood of achieving military success must have seemed doubtful at times, both to the volunteers themselves and the population they represented, and so, the handover of British military installations was marked with ceremony and celebration. The 12-month period from the first handover from the British Army of Beggars Bush Barracks, Dublin, in Jan 1922, until the handover of McKee Barracks, Dublin, in Dec 1922, was a significant stage in our country's history, through the Treaty debates, the death of Michael Collins and the start of the Irish Civil War. As the decade of centenaries draws to a close, it is fitting therefore, that the Defence Forces commemorates the achievements of their forebears and as such, a commemoration was held exactly 100 years to the day to mark the handover by the British Forces to the Irish Forces in the following 12 Military establishments: Beggars Bush, Lynch Camp, Stephens Barracks, Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Finner Camp, Custume Barracks, Sarsfield Barracks, Casement Aerodrome, Aiken Barracks, Curragh Camp, Collins Barracks (Cork), and McKee Barracks. This Centenary Edition features four pages per location, including the history of each barracks along with historical photographs and an overview of the handover ceremony that took place, together with photographs of the days event. For further historical reading on the handover of the Barracks please click the following link: http://www.raisingtheflag.ie Out of respect for Pte Seán Rooney, who sadly lost his life while serving with the 121st Inf Bn, UNIFIL, on the 14th of December 2022, the handover ceremony of McKee Bks did not take place as planned. A private wreath laying ceremony took place in McKee Bks on the 17th of December in lieu of the handover ceremony. "One of the deepest impulses in man is the impulse to record, to scratch a drawing on a tusk or keep a diary… The enduring value of the past is, one might say, the very basis of civilisation." — John Jay Chapman, American author (1862-1933) Sgt John Rossiter – Editor

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