An Cosantóir May 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie
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by SGT WAYNE FITzGERALD
SuPPORtIng OuR
LEInStER VEtERAnS
O
n tuesday April 1st, An Cosantóir met
with one of the newest branches of the
Organisation of national Ex-Servicemen
and Women (OnE), the Royal Meath, situ-
ated in the north Leinster area.
The Royal Meath branch was set up just
over a year ago (January 2013) so that ONE
members from the area wouldn't have to
travel to Dublin or Drogheda/Slane for ONE
meetings and events.
The branch chairman, Conor Swords,
who has served with ONE for 25 years, told
us that he and other members of the Fr
James Gilmore Branch (Artane) established
the new branch and formed a committee.
They canvassed the areas of Kells, Navan,
Trim, Oldcastle and Virginia looking for new
members, and now have 34 active members
in the branch. Members of the new branch
have sponsored three flags (national, UN
and branch) as well as the chairman's chain
of office.
Despite being in existence for just over a
year, the Royal Meath Branch has taken part
in many events, and not just ONE events;
others have included the French Foreign
Legion Day, Anzac Day, and the Royal British
Legion. The Branch has also built up a great
relationship with the Thurles Memorial
Trust, with Royal Meath members being
made honorary members of the Trust.
The Branch has planned a church collec-
tion on August 3rd and they hope to hold
their first annual Mass and Lá na bhFiann in
September.
Branch PRO, Bridget Quinn, who is possi-
bly the first female PRO in ONE, told us that
branch members have a long history of travelling on the International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes, with Bridget com-
pleting 14 trips and Conor with in excess of 20.
Always on the lookout for new members, the branch meets on the first tuesday of every month in the Martry Res-
taurant (formally the Silver tankard), Kells Road (R417), navan, Co Meath. Prospective members can also contact Peter
Rogers, the branch secretary, on 086-4040049 or bridget Quinn on 087-8332762.
