An Cosantóir

9 HANDOVER CEREMONY OF BEGGARS BUSH BARRACKS one of the officers who was amongst the unit, who officially took over the barracks from the British. Col O'Connor was veteran of the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War. He also served under Michael Collins and held the rank of lieutenant in the 4th Dublin Brigade. He also instigated the formation of a completely Irish-speaking battalion in the Irish Army in 1924. However, the family ties go even further in the history of Beggars Bush and a great example of it, is Lieutenant Colonel Denis Hanly, whose grandfather, Commandant Patrick Kelly, Commanding Officer of the 2 Brigade Artillery Regiment, 2 Brigade, was a member of the original garrison. "My grandfather initially served in the IRA, the 2nd Battalion of the Dublin Brigade, he was a squad leader and when he came to the barracks here, and he was commissioned as a Lieutenant and two years later, when the Provisional Constitution came out, he was recommissioned as a Captain" said Lt Col Hanly. "The Irish Army was a dream of what it was going to be, and the men and the women had fought hard to get us to the place where we were in 1922. And then that rebel army that marched through that gate, they put on their best uniform, they were the members of Óglaigh na hÉireann. They fought the most powerful empire in the world and brought them to a standstill to win their Independence. It's hard not to be impressed by what they did. My own grandfather studied in UCD, and he gave that up to fight for freedom as did so many others, tens of thousands who did it as well. When you see the flag coming up here, and you're wearing the same uniform that he wore, it's a special day to anyone with any connection," said Lt Col Hanly. While each military installation in Ireland, which was taken over by the Free State Army in 1922, was of strategic and symbolic importance, the Beggars Bush Barracks was the very first one that went under the control of the State. It can be visited 7 days a week for anyone who would like to explore its history. Gráinne Máire Ní Conchubair reminiscing on family history with GOC 2 Bde Brig Gen Cudmore 7 Inf Bn on Parade at Beggars Bush Raising of the National Flag

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