An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/535716
An Cosantóir July/August 2015 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS SUMMER OF 75' This picture was taken 40-years ago and shows graduates from Universi- ty College Galway (UCG) at USAC in Renmore, Galway. With the recent re- tirement of brig Gen Séamus Ó Giolláin (GOC DFTC) in May 2105, there are now two still serving: Col Peter Richardson and Lt Col John Phelan. The 29 officers who graduated from UCG (now NUIG) are photographed before their graduation ceremony on 16th July 1975. Front Row L/R: Lieutenants Trevor Kingston, Francis Kelly, George Kerton, Dermot McKeon, Patrick Phelan, Peter Richardson, Michael Kennedy. Second Row: Mathew Mur- ray, Patrick McKenna, Michael Daly (RIP), Declan Lawlor, Peter Gallagher, Thomas Rigney, John Phelan. Third Row: Louis Culliton (RIP), Diarmuid Fitzgerald, brian O'Keeffe, Michael O'hanlon (RIP), Michael McMahon, Christopher O'Sullivan, John Ahern and Michael hanrahan. Fourth Row: Dermot Igoe, John O'Reilly, William O'Flaherty, Gerald Fitzgibbon, Dermot O'Connor, Michael McDermott (RIP) and Séamus Ó Giolláin. Photo: Col George M Kerton Retd In Memory The annual IUNVA Wreath Laying Ceremony took place at the UN Memo- rial in Arbour House, Dublin on Sunday 24th May 2015. Three DF members who died in Cyprus while serving with UNICYP peacekeeping mission in 1965 on their 50th anniversary were specially remembered. The tri-service wreath layers were Pte Saoirse Hogan 2 BAR, Athlone, A/B Noel Elliot NSR Dublin and Arwn Laura McHale, No 1 Ops Wing and along with Armn Michael Whelan, No 4 Sp Wing who read out a poem he had previously written. Photo by: Cpl Colum Lawlor, 105 Sqn. tipperary International Peace award Pictured are members of Post 24 and Post 5, IUNVA who performed an honour guard for UN Secretary General ban Ki- Moon's visit to the 2015 Tipperary Peace Convention on Sunday 24th May 2015 at ballykisteen hotel and Golf Resort Tipperary. The Secretary General was presented with the Tipperary Inter- national Peace Award. Photo: Stephen Dwyer International Peacekeepers Day On 29th May 2015, 6 Inf Bn hosted a coffee morning for retired DF members in the NCOs mess in Custume Bks Athlone. In recogni- tion of International Peacekeepers Day, members of Post 9, IUNVA and ONE formed up on the Barracks Square and marched out the gate to the remembrance monument for deceased members of the Defence Forces in Athlone Castle, where both groups laid wreaths. Comdt Shane Rockett (2 i/c 6 Inf Bn) is pictured both groups. Photo by: Joe Relihan & courtesy of Pte Aiden Sherlock, 6 Inf Bn