An Cosantóir

A YEAR IN REVIEW: 2024 IN THE DF INFO OFFICE www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE 2024 rounds off another busy year in the DF Info Office, which comprises the An Cosantóir Magazine editorial team, the Audio Visual Section and the DF Photographer. This magazine is the sixth of the year, and we are delighted to have another great edition featuring each of the Corps and Services of the Defence Forces, with a summary of the activities and achievements of each. Notable articles this year include interviews with the Chief of Staff, as well as the Heads of Transformation and Strategic HR. We featured many of the sports and clubs of the DF including the DF Association of Mountaineers, the DF Rowing Club, DF Golf and DF Athletics. We also had some comprehensive articles on the UNDOF Withdrawal from both a Inf Gp perspective, and an overarching review of the Logistics element by J4. We featured two history series with 3 parts each – the Irish Volunteers at War, 1916 – 1923 and the Irish Deserters of the DF in WWII. Additionally we had many articles on the RDF, as well as photo features of the An Cosantóir Race and the DF Family Day in Dublin Zoo. In early 2024 the DF Info Office started a campaign – People of the DF and it has been hugely successful. Our roving reporter, Cpl Martin Bennett, has featured more than 70 DF members including PDF, RDF, Veterans and Civilian Employees. We expanded the feature to include 'The Best of Us', focusing initially on sports. We will soon be expanding this to include academic and community achievements. We have had a huge response to this campaign, run both from our @ancosantoir Instagram account, as well as on CONNECT, and it will continue in to 2025. The DF Info Office organised the Family Day for families of Defence Forces personnel currently serving overseas. This took place in Dublin Zoo on 20th July and was a great success. We had a huge turnout from family members who were very appreciative of the acknowledgement. This could not have been achieved without the DF volunteers who attended on the day, and the support of OC McKee Bks Coy. We hope to continue to organise these events for future overseas deployments. Our Audio Visual Section has continued to produce some excellent videos during 2024, including Cadet and Recruit Intakes, the overseas homecoming, the 10k race and the various commissionings and passing out parades. All of our videos can be found on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/ user/DFMagazine or on DF and An Cosantóir social media. The DF photographer, Armn Sam Gibney, attended many DF events over the last 12 months along with the AVS. All of our photography can be found on the DF Flickr page, https:// www.flickr.com/photos/ dfmagazine/albums We would like to thank the AC Photography Section, 105 Squadron for all of their support during the year with attending events. Finally, A/CQ Johnny Rossiter has just moved on from editor of the An Cosantóir Magazine to work in the DF Registrar's Office. We would like to thank him, and acknowledge all of the work he has put in to the magazine over the last few years. BY COMDT HELEN HOSBACK

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