An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 28 | WELL DONE! FOR COnsOlE On 1st November 2015 a 200km Relay Run Challenge was undertaken by personnel from 2 Fd Engrs, Athlone and 1 Inf Bn, Galway, raising €4,215 for charity Console. Con- sole was chosen because they have been operating outreach services in Athlone out of Galway and the midlands region for the last few years. With increasing numbers availing of their services, they committed to establishing a full time centre in Athlone. GAA County Boards and a number of senior players expressed their willingness to sup- port the event in any way possible. The route was from the Console Centre, Athlone, to O'Connor Park, Tullamore, then on to Cusack Park, Mullingar, through Pearse Park, Longford, over to Hyde Park, Roscommon, and then finishing in Custume Bks, Athlone. Leapfrogging the 16 runners, divided into 4 distinct teams achieved their target time of 24hrs, so each team ran a minimum of 10km in 1hr and resting for 3hrs with every runner eventually completing 50km approx. Photos by: Ken Byrne Photography 48 InF gP unDOF HElPIng OuT Members of the recently returned 48 Inf Gp UNDOF gathered to present a cheque to the DF Head Chaplain, Rv Fr Seamus Madigan who is also chairman of the DFBF committee. The money was raised when the Gp completed a very successful An Cosantóir 10k in Camp Zouiani on the Golan Heights, 130 members of the 48 Inf Gp displayed professionalism, endurance, fitness, spirit and comradeship, in the best traditions of the DF at home and abroad. Pictured L/R are: Fr PJ Somers, Chaplain 48 Inf Gp, Rv Fr Seamus Madigan Head Chaplain, Regt Sgt Major Noel O'Callaghan, Cpl Fergal McLoughlin and Lt Col Mark Prend- ergast OC 48 Inf Gp. Photo: RSM Noel O'Callaghan, 2 Arty Regt AwArd winning dF TrAvel OFFice The Defence Forces Travel office is embedded in J4 Branch and is the nerve cen- tre for the DF movement around the globe. Their outstanding work was recently recognised at the inaugural Irish Travel Awards in the Westbury Hotel hosted by the Institute of Travel & Meetings (ITM). The Awards were for best travel Manager: Comdt Dorothy Donnelly was summarised by the judges "We considered this person as someone who operates in a very complex world where there could be a number of excuses to not achieve savings and improve the overall programme outputs. But "her" approach is highly professional… and real life challenging situations, often bringing a new dimension to the world of business travel!" best business travel Management team: Led by Comdt Dorothy Donnelly and staffed by Flight Sgt Mick Cusack, Sgt Ja- cinta McInerney and Pte Miriam Walsh. The judges recognised the complexity of the travel programme requirements and extensive remit of this relatively small team. Pictured L/R: Pte Miriam Walsh, Col Peter O'Halloran and Comdt Dorothy Donnelly. iT cArlOw cOnFerring ceremOny The Institute of Technology, Carlow (IT Carlow) held a Conferring Ceremony on Thursday 5th of November, where almost 200 members of the Defence Forces were conferred at a special ceremony in the Barrow Centre IT Carlow, in what was one of the larg- est military graduations from a higher educa- tion institute. Graduates, drawn from Fmn/Bde throughout the Defence Forces, were awarded with Masters of Arts in Teaching and Learning and Bachelors of Arts, Higher Certificates and Certificates in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies (LMDS) through an academic collaboration between IT Carlow and the Defence Forces. This is the 4th conferring ceremony under this scheme. Photo by: Cpl Lee Coyle, PR Branch Back Row L/R: Sgt O'Malley G, Pte Maher B (Tipperary Hurler), Pte Coogan R, Pte Barry R, Sgt Flood M, Cpl McGuire M, Pte Foy C, Cpl Mc Lynn S and Capt Morrissey P. Front Row L/R: John Hanbury (Galway Hurler), Sgt Tiernan J, Lt Col Carroll M, BSM Lambe F and Capt Kilbride I (Roscommon Footballer).

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