An Cosantóir

| 17 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE been unoccupied for a number of years and it was in a dilapidated state. After several months of toil by members it was transformed and it was ready for use as IUNVA HQ. While this was underway, posts were being established around the country through a network of serving and retired personnel. Soon, thirty one posts were up and running. Like many voluntary organisations, the fortunes of IUNVA flowed and ebbed over the years. Many of the original founding members in posts moved on and some posts merged with neighbouring posts, some posts stood down and were later re-activated. The aims of the association included the provision of support for members and other veterans in need and to ensure that the memory of those who gave their lives in the cause of peace were not forgotten. The UN Memorial Garden, located at Post 1, Arbour Hill, was officially opened by President Mary McAleese, on 8 November 1998. The Remembrance Wall is "dedicated to the Irish citizens who died in service of the United Nations". At the time the memorial had seventy seven names inscribed on it, one was a member of An Garda Síochána and seventy six were members of Óglaigh na hÉireann. The memorial was revamped in 2023 and the name of Pte Seán Rooney was added to the list of the other 96 Irish citizens who died while on peace support operations. The causes of death range from death by hostile action, accidents (including road traffic accidents, air crashes and accidental weapons discharges and drowning) and natural causes. Eighty eight of the caualties were serving members of Óglaigh na hÉireann. One was a serving member of An Garda Síochána and eight were serving in civilian appointments. Of the eight who died while serving in the civilian components with the UN, one was a former member of An Garda Síochána and four were former members of Óglaigh na hÉireann. A significant and sometimes forgotten or overlooked statistic is that thirty eight of the eighty eight Defence Forces fatalities overseas were killed by hostile actions; seventeen in the Congo while serving with ONUC, two in the Middle East while serving as unarmed observers with UNTSO and nineteen in Lebanon with UNIFIL. Today IUNVA has twenty one posts and ordinary membership is open to any Irish Citizen, serving or retired, who has completed a recognised tour of duty with a United Nations or United Nations Mandated peace support operation or mission. This includes serving and retired personnel from Óglaigh na hÉireann and An Garda Síochána as well as civilians who served with the civilian components of UN peace support operations. IUNVA is a registered charity and, as required by the Charities Act 2009, operates in compliance with the Charities Governance Code and guidelines issued by the Charities Regulator. The association carries out various welfare and ceremonial activities. Welfare activities include liaison on behalf of veterans with State and voluntary agencies, visits to veterans in their homes, in hospice, hospital, nursing home and other residential care settings, provision of transport for veterans with restricted mobility, supplying foodstuffs and other essentials for needy veterans and veterans' families, co-coordinating counseling for members and other disadvantaged veterans, drop- in-centres, organising support/ social/sporting events at Posts, conducting training courses for members on physical health and mental health. IUNVA has burial plots in Dublin, Athlone, Mullingar and Letterkenny and a new plot was recently acquired in Kilkenny. As well as organising remembrance ceremonies at post and at graveyards around the country, IUNVA participates in events organised by the State, Óglaigh na hÉireann, An Garda Síochána, local authorities, local communities and other national veterans' associations. In December 2022, IUNVA adopted a new constitution and the four main objects of the association are: The prevention or relief of poverty and economic hardship and the provision of financial relief in cases of necessity or distress to members of IUNVA and their dependants within capabilities. To provide financial and other supports to veterans whose lives have been adversely affected as a result of service with the United Nations. Integration of disadvantaged veterans and promotion of their full participation in society. To promote, for the public benefit, the commemoration of Irish citizens who have died in the cause of world peace while on service with the United Nations or on United Nations mandated missions or operations. Today IUNVA has twenty one posts nationwide. Posts are located as follows: Members of IUNVA Post 3 Gorey Co Wexford procured a mobility scooter for Jim Redmond who was one of the founders of the post and a Congo veteran who served with C Coy 33 Inf Bn in the Congo from Aug 1960 to Jan 1961. Members of Post 3 on the photograph are Bill Wall, James Gilbert (Chairperson Post 3), Bernard Manning, Mick Keegan, William Gilbert, Paddy Brady, Pat Cody and John O'Connell. On 23 Jan 2024, members of the Chaplaincy Service visited IUNVA HQ at Arbour Hill. Pictured here are some of the Chaplains with members of IUNVA at the Memorial Garden. Post 1 Dublin members, Michael Buggy and Sean Harris, preparing food parcels at Arbour Hill for needy veterans in the Dublin area. The food is supplied by a number of supermarkets free of charge via FoodCloud Post 1 Dublin post1secretary@gmail.com Post 2 Listowel post2secretary@gmail.com Post 3 Gorey post3secretary@gmail.com Post 4 Tipperary post4secretary@gmail.com Post 5 Cork post5secretary@gmail.com Post 6 Limerick post6secretary@gmail.com Post 8 Kilkenny post8secretary@gmail.com Post 9 Athlone post9iunva@gmail.com Post 10 Donegal post10secretary@gmail.com Post 11 Curragh post11secretary@gmail.com Post 15 Cavan post15secretary@gmail.com Post 19 Letterkenny secretary@iunvapost19.com Post 20 Mullingar post20secretary@gmail.com Post 21 Bray post21secretary@gmail.com Post 24 Clonmel post24secretary@gmail.com Post 25 Fermoy iunvafermoy @gmail.com Post 27 Portlaoise post27secretary@gmail.com Post 29 Carlow post29secretary@gmail.com Post 30 Galway post30secretary@gmail.com Post 31 Enniscorthy post31secretary@gmail.com Post 32 Tralee post32secretary@gmail.com

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