An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir January / February 2025 www.military.ie/magazine DCOS (SUPPORT) MAJOR GENERAL ADRIAN Ó MURCHÚ SIR, YOU ARE DUE TO RETIRE FROM THE DEFENCE FORCES SOON AFTER 42 YEARS OF SERVICE, WHAT HAVE BEEN THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR CAREER? I suppose that I have always been very lucky in the type and variety of appointments that I've enjoyed over the years, at home and abroad. At home, my career was marked by a wide range of operational, training and staff jobs, such as in the 5th and 6th Infantry Battalions, the Army Ranger Wing, Military Intelligence, the Military College (Infantry, Cadet and UN Schools), CMU and DFHQ (e.g. J3&5 and Strategic Planning Branch). Command jobs were always a highlight, such as Platoon Commander in the Army Ranger Wing, Company Commander and 2IC in the 5th Battalion and OC CMU. All these jobs gave me wide exposure to all sorts of DF activities, which helped me immensely during my time as ACOS and more recently as DCOS (Sp). My overseas service included tours with the UN in Lebanon, Somalia, Western Sahara, Israel and the Ivory Coast. I also deployed twice with the EU - as Chief Intelligence Analyst with EUFOR HQ in Eastern Tchad and more recently for two years in Brussels as Military Assistant to the Chairman of the EU Military Committee (the Chief of Staff will take over the Chairman's appointment later this year). While that time in Brussels was certainly remarkable as I worked at the very highest levels of European Defence, my time in Somalia remains my most memorable trip, for a few reasons. While it was certainly the most challenging and dangerous of my tours, we really believed that we were making a difference to end the famine, and I was lucky to be part of a magnificent group of individuals that displayed the very best of Irish soldiering, humanity and good humour. They certainly instilled in me a huge respect and admiration for our troops ever since. YOU HAVE A STRONG MILITARY TRADITION IN YOUR FAMILY – DID THIS INFLUENCE HOW YOU APPROACHED YOUR CAREER? Certainly, I was always very conscious that soldiering was the family trade on my father's side. He had joined the Céad Cath (1st Infantry Battalion) in Galway in 1935 for three years, and re-joined in 1939 for the duration of the Emergency (World War II). He demobbed as a Sgt after the War but always remained a soldier at heart. His father had been an NCO in the Munster Fusiliers and was wounded at Gallipoli. My maternal grandfather was also in the British Army, as was my maternal grand-uncle, who was killed while serving with the Irish Guards in France in 1918. So, in many ways soldiering was in my DNA. My Dad proudly wore his ONE blazer and service medals on the day of my commissioning. Sadly, he died only a few weeks later, but despite our grief at his loss it was a consolation that he lived to see that soldiering tradition carry on to the next generation. I have spent my time in service living up to his high standards, and, I hope, his values. YOU HAVE BEEN D COS SP FOR 3 AND A HALF YEARS, WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND www.military INTERVIEW BY COMDT HELEN HOSBACK PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MAJOR GENERAL ADRIAN Ó MURCHÚ Freefall training over the Curragh (photo Lt Col Ruarigh McDermott) 4 |

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