An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 9 by JUSTNYA MAzUREK-SCHRAMM Defence Forces Exhibition Opens in Poznań F the second time the Irish Culture Foundation in Po- land has organised an exhibition dedicated to the Irish Defence Forces. Last year's exhibition, in Museum Ziemi Kaliskiej in Kalisz, was a great success, drawing many visitors. This year's exhibition opened on 14th March in Wielkopolskie Military Museum, Poznań, the oldest military museum in Poland, which opened in October 1919. The museum was virtually de- stroyed during World War II, losing many valuable historical Polish artefacts, and was reopened in Stary Rynek (Old Market Square) in 1963. Since then the museum has played an important role in preserving the memory of Poland's military history. The exhibition, 'Irish Defence Forces – Army of the Emerald Island', which portrays the history and present activities of the Defence Forces, will run until 29th June. Most of the artefacts – uniforms, pictures and books– belong to the Irish Culture Founda- tion but many thanks are also due to Comdt Padraic Kennedy from Military Archives who helped to facilitate the inclusion of modern uniforms, photographs and old recruiting posters. Visitors are able to trace the history of the Irish Defence Forces –Army, Air Corps and Naval Service– through a series of edu- cational panels. Part of the exhibition is dedicated to Ireland's and Poland's participation in EU missions, with Polish and Irish uniforms displayed together. Some of the oldest exhibits are dedicated to Michael Collins. These include copies of Collins's book Argu- ments from the Treaty from 1921 and Piaras Beaslaí's Michael Collins and the Making of the New Ireland from 1926. The oldest uniform on display is a battle dress-style cavalry uniform from 1944. The exhibition's launch was at- tended by the Irish Ambassador to Poland, HE Eugene Hutchinson; the Honorary Consul of Ireland in Poznań, Mr Mateusz Morawiecki; and the Director of the National Museum, Prof Wojciech Suchocki. The Irish Culture Foundation is or- ganising additional events around the exhibition, including presentations on the Irish Defence Forces for adults and children and a concert of Irish music. O n 02 April, 32 females drawn from 6 Inf bn, the Air Corps, and the naval Service, came together to form the first all-female presidential guard of honour. Boarding our buses at the break of dawn with freshly pressed shirts and polished boots, official dress at the ready, and hair carefully wrapped in hairnets, we set off for Glasnevin Cemetery to participate in a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of Cumann na mBan. There, among the gravestones of Michael Collins, Éamon de Valera and Charles Stewart Parnell, 32 women stood waiting to be called in to place so that they could make their own mark on history. After the officer in command of the guard of honour drew her sword and gave us the order to march into place, we stood proudly shoulder to shoulder on Glasnevin Cemetery's cobblestones, our arms at the salute as the national flag was raised in honour of the women of Cumann na mBan. A wreath was then laid by President Michael D Higgins. As the ceremony in memory of these heroic Irish women drew to a close we marched smartly off the parade ground to a round of applause from the crowd who witnessed this historic and very memorable event. by PTE LEONA GILLIGAN A Perspective from the Ranks

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