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ello and welcome to another special issue where we have just been
announced as the winner of the 'Best Article' award from this year's
European Military Publication Association (EMPA) conference in Helsinki,
Finland. The article that won it for us was At the gates of hell [Mali] by author
and military historian Paul O'Brien – well done Paul!
In this issue your photos are ever present in our On Parade gallery. In Focus features
many mini stories from around the DF with S/Lt Shane Mulcahy who underwent the Mine
Clearance Diver course with the Royal Canadian Navy, then IUNVA Post 27 officially opened its
offices in Mill View, Portlaoise, and finally the Salute! Military and Re-enactment Show 2013,
held in the National Show Centre, Swords, Co Dublin. Our main feature is an update on Mission
Readiness Training of the 43 Inf Gp who recently deployed to UNDOF and then we find out who
the Green Knights are both by Wesley Bourke and the follow up to last month's interesting
piece Comics at War by Aidan Courtney. Capt Ronan Kavanagh tells us about some recent
Engineer Specialist Search and Clearance (ESSC) Training. In our Strategic Review, Paul Shanahan
(NMCI) writes about SMACs - Small Craft Emergency Response and Survival Training for Arctic
Conditions. Our In Reserve features the recent RDF Senior NCOs Course by student Sgt Steve
Conran. In our History pages we have two small pieces; Memorial to General Collins and the
Cavalry Corps Memorial's 50th Anniversary. In Sport we have the Icelandic Race by Capt
John Murphy and small pieces on the sports of Equine and Skydiving. Plus our other regular
features – World Strategic Picture, Tac-Aide, Gear Review, Noticeboard, Reviews and What I Do.
"I would like to express my apologies to the newly promoted Corporal Neville Coughlan, who I
accidently demoted in last month's issue - congratulations 'Corporal' - now get back out there!"
Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald - Editor
JFK Commemoration
Aidan Synnott poses with Brig Gen Paul Fry (GOC Air
Corps) and Lt Col Sean Cosden (USAF), Defence Attaché
to Ireland), on the quayside during the recent JFK Commemoration event in New Ross, Co Wexford on June
2013. Photo: Aidan's Dad, through Brig Gen P. Fry
Air Corps 42nd
Apprentice Class 35th
year reunion
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Front Cover
Sgt Clive Dunne during UNDOF
Mission Readiness Exercise
Photo by: Cpl Neville Coughlan
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|5
Editorial
H
Better late than never
Former member of the DF, Mr Jack Kelly, achieved a
long standing wish to revisit Cathal Brugha Bks, some
68 years after he left the forces. Jack, who will be 91 in
November, joined the DF during 'The Emergency' in May
1941 and served until November 1945. Jack was a keen
soccer player, having played League of Ireland soccer with
both Bohemians and Drumcondra. During his service he
played for the DF and the E Comd teams. He played in the
Cunningham Cup final vs. the Curragh Comd in 1943, but
never received a winner's medal. However, this was rectified
at this year's Cunningham Cup final in Tolka Park on 25th
July 2013 when, at half time, Uachtarán na hÉireann,
Michael D Higgins, presented Jack with his winners medal,
70 years after the match. Pictured on the 8th August 2013,
are (L/R) Comdt Brian Donagh (A/OC of Cathal Brugha Bks),
Comdt Robert Kiely (Sec DF Soccer), Mr Jack Kelly and Col
Brian Reid (EO & 2 I/C of 2 Bde). Photo: Comdt Keily
Pictured are the Air Corps 42nd Apprentice Class
(September 1978) who held a 35th year reunion on 20th
September 2013 in Baldonnel. Our day started with
mass, said by Fr Jerry Carroll CF, assisted by sacristan
Armn Robert Walsh. A special reason for the mass was
the recent passing of one of our class, Kevin Sheridan
and also remembering: John O'Sullivan, Harry Roberts
and Sean Molloy who had passed on in the intervening
years. After a plentiful lunch we went on a tour of the
museum, the new apprentice hostel and the Pilatus
hanger. Later we spent time chatting about the past and
present in the NCOs mess to finish the evening. All in
all a super 35th year get together made all the better by
www.military.ie the defenceTom O'Doherty
forces magazine
everyone in Baldonnel. Photo:
