An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir April 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS REPORT & PHOTOS by SGT WAYNE FITzGERALD T he Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen & Women (ONE), St Conleth's branch, Newbridge, held a cedar tree planting and wreath-laying ceremony on 16th Janu- ary 2016 in memory of the 87 members of the Defence Forces, many from the Curragh Camp, who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of peace. The project was undertaken with the assistance of Kildare County Council and the New- bridge Tidy Towns committee. St Conleth's Branch chairman Philip 'Busty' Coy said: "The project took over a year to complete. I would like to thank Cllr Fiona O'Loughlin, who was the mayor of Kildare when we started this project, and Comdt Ger Ahern (retd), from the Newbridge Tidy Towns committee, who both helped us a lot. Kildare County Council provided the location and the Tidy Towns committee provided the tree. The plaque was made locally too." Many veterans and locals braved the cold weather to gather on the bank of the River Liffey, which flowed past serenely, in tune with the ceremony. On behalf of St Conleth's Branch, the ceremony MC, Peter Origan, wel- comed everyone for attending, before thanking the other ONE branches and the various associations who paraded in their different blazers, in- cluding IUNVA, and the 3 Inf Bn, 5 Inf Bn, and Military Police associations. The St Conleth's Branch pipe band provided excellent music for the cer- emony at which wreaths were laid by Brig Gen Joe Mulligan, GOC DFTC, (on behalf of members of the Defence Forces); ONE President Mick Carroll (who is also a member of St Conleth's Branch); Cllr O'Loughlin; repre- sentatives of the military associations; and finally by family members of deceased servicemen and women. Brig Gen Mulligan then addressed those in attendance, reminding every- one of the sacrifices members of the Defence Forces have made to peace- keeping throughout the world. He also thanked St Conleth's Branch for making the memorial possible. Among those commemorat- ed on the day were four young members of 3 Inf Bn, based in the Curragh, who tragically lost their lives on 14th February 2000 in a traffic accident while on peacekeeping duties with UNIFIL in Lebanon. These were Ptes Declan Deere, John Murphy, Matthew Lawlor and Brendan Fitzpatrick. At the ceremony, Tom Hetherington, sec- retary of 3 Inf Bn Association, said: "The loss of the four young lads in that tragic accident in 2000 was very hard to bear for 3 Inf Bn and the Defence Forces. This is an excellent project, and well overdue. It's great to see people in the locality getting involved, and we would like to say a big 'thank you' to St Conleth's Branch for a job well done!"

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