An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 8 | 40TH CADET ClAss (1965/67) 50th Anniversary Celebrations by LT COL MAURICE KEALy RETD - CLASS SECRETARy PhotoS by CPL LEE COyLE, PR BRANCH O n 26th october 1965 the young men who would form the 40th Cadet Class arrived at the Cadet School in the Curragh to commence their two years of training. Fifty years later, on tuesday 20th october 2015, twenty three of the twenty six members who were commissioned gathered in the Military College for a celebratory lunch and a nostalgic visit to the Cadet School. Our class has held many reunions throughout our service, since 2002 we have met annually. In 2007, when most of us had retired, we decided to meet each October near our enlistment date, for two days mid-week in a hotel with a nearby golf facility. The event is arranged annually by the secretary and local classmates. At last year's event we decided to mark our 50th anniversary in a special way: lunch in the Mil Col and make a significant presen- tation to the Cadet Sch. Classmates Cols Don O'Keeffe and Mark O'Brien got working with me at an early stage. The Mil Col and Cadet Sch were most receptive and accommodating. Two well researched proposals for a presentation were advanced - one by Lt Col Ray Twomey and Comdt Michael Heery. The class, however, accepted by a narrow margin Don's proposal to have a wood turn- ing replica of the Cadet Sch collar badge commissioned, and he supervised the project to its end. Our guests at the splendidly presented lunch in the Mil Col Officers Mess included Mary Earley, wife of classmate Lt Gen Dermot Earley DSM former Chief of Staff, who died in June 2010, accompanied by her son Comdt Dermot Earley, and Maureen Dolan, wife of Sean Dolan who was accompanied by his brother Tom. Sean, who died in August 2007, left during his first ca- det year, but had maintained contact throughout his life. Also included were Col Howard Berney Commandant of the Mil Col, Lt Col Tom O'Callaghan Commandant of the Cadet Sch, and three of our class's former training officers Brig Gen Frank Colclough, Lt Col Colm Madigan and Comdt Tom McCormack. Two classmates, Comdts Joe Lynch, through ill health, and Noel Langan, due to a family bereavement, were unable to attend. The toast to the class and guests was performed by classmate Maj Gen Pat O'Sullivan. At the Cadet Sch we were shown an accommodation passage and then joined the newly arrived 92nd Cadet Class, of three weeks, in Pearse Hall. A powerpoint presentation of photographs showing the class's time there was made by Lt Col Cormac Lalor followed by Don making the presentation on our behalf to Lt Col Tom O'Callaghan. In accepting the presentation the Commandant referred to the values of class esprit and comradeship exemplified by the 40th and suggested to the 92nd class that in fifty years time they, too, might return for a similar celebration. We received a briefing on the current cadet training plan and a display of modern weapons and equipment was laid out for all to view. Our visit continued in the Cadets Mess for coffee where our presenta- tion was mounted on the din- ing room wall. Out- side the main door facing the garden the class was photo- graphed as it had been for its pre-commission- ing photograph. Our sincere thanks goes to the Cadet Sch staff for their warm welcome and superb effort. As the reunion continued the next day the golfers played in the Royal Curragh GC, and the non-golfers visited the Curragh Museum and National Stud. At our dinner that night Mark O'Brien performed the toast to the class and we're already looking forward to next year in Athlone. Front Row L/R: Michael Heery, Dermot Murphy, Dermot Earley Jnr, Tom Dolan, Pat O'Sullivan, Mary Earley, Maureen Dolan, Mark O'Brien & Maurice Kealy. Middle Row L/R: Jack Burke, Paddy O'Brien, Enda Breslin, Tom Croke, John Byrne, Michael O'Dwyer, Ray Twomey, Niall Daly, Eddie O'Brien, Cormac Lalor, Owen O'Sullivan, Don O'Keeffe, Brian Wickham & Brian Hickey. Back Row L/R: Bernard Goulding, Frank Slattery, Andy O'Keeffe & Michael Stapleton. Col Don O'Keeffe presents the Collar Badge Replica Shield to Cadet School Commandant Lt Col Tom O'Callaghan. The shield is two feet in diameter. (Produced by wood turner Herve de Wergifosse and wood sculptor Eoghan O'Sullivan www. wergiwood.com). Two translations of "Ga Gasced…" are offered from our research: 'What deed of valour shall I do today' and 'What weapons will we use today'. 92nd Class Naval Cadet Diarmuid Monaghan with Lt Col Maurice Kealy (Retd) viewing the accommodation passage. The presentation shield mounted in the Cadet School Mess Dining Room.

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