An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir March 2015 www.dfmagazine.ie 8 | by GERRY ENRIGHT PRESIDENT AND PRO PATRICK SARSFIELD BRANCH ONE Joe O'Mahony "It was with great sadness that members of the Defence Forces, An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCÁ) and the Organisa- tion of National Ex-Servicemen and Women (ONE) learned of the death of Joe O'Mahony PC. Capt O'Mahony spent 40-years with the FCÁ as a Capt in B Coy, 14 Inf Bn and, on retirement, joined ONE. Joe was a leading light in the ONE, he was very involved at all levels of the organisation and held the position of secretary, PRO and he also served as president for three years. In 2013 he was elected to the board of directors of ONE in Dublin and in January 2014 he was elected as president and chairman of the Southern Area Council and was still very active up to a few weeks ago. As a younger man, Joe was very involved in pitch and putt and won many competitions in the Munster area. He trained as a psychiatric nurse and worked in St. Joseph's Hospital in Limerick. Joe was also very involved in bringing the International Veterans' Parade to Limerick as part of City of Culture. He also spearhead- ed the opening of the ONE drop-in centre in Edward Street. On a personnal note and as Branch President, I will miss him for his advice and expertise on all matters. He will be sadly missed by his family, his ONE colleagues and many friends." Joe is survived by his wife Josephine, daughter Patrice, broth- ers Christy and John and dear friend and neighbour Aisling. A Tribute COnGO veTeran P ictured on 9th August 1960 are members of the 33rd Inf bn, on the eve of their departure to Congo, Africa. Much has been written on these trailblazing peace keeping missions, where sadly 24 Defence Forces soldiers died during the 4-year mission. Amongst those pictured is Congo Veteran John (Sean) Mullins (1st left, front row), who is a retired Sgt from Moate Co Westmeath. Sean was stationed at UN Headquarters in Elizabethville and at home was stationed in Custume Bks, Athlone. Sean has spent the last 2-years in St Vincent's Hospital, Athlone due to ill health. The photo and article which is behind Sean's bed was reprinted in the Irish Times Magazine on 20th April 2013. It was Sean's friend Oliver Horgan who noticed the newspaper page and sent it to us. Sean loves to read and Oliver brings him in magazines occasionally, he has heard of An Cosantóir, but has not read it - we sent Sean a few back copies recently so hopefully he enjoys them. Thank you to Oliver for bringing us this story. We would like to wish Sean a full recovery.

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