An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir June 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | VEtERAn'S nEWS VEtERAn'S nEWS VEtERAn'S nEWS Historical Moment for Regiment Association By SGT ANTHONy GALLAGHER (RETD), 2 FD ARTy REGT ASSOC 2 Fd Arty Regt was based in McKee Bks from 1943 until December 2012, when it was redeployed and amal- gamated with 4 Fd Art Regt in Custom Bks, Athlone, as part of the Defence Forces reorganisation. The 2 Field Artillery Regiment Association was established in November 2011 by serving and retired members of the regi- ment at an inaugural meeting held in UN Post 1, Arbour Hill. The aim of the association is to provide support to retired members of the regiment, engage in community projects, and foster relationships within the Defence Forces and with other representative groups such as ONE and IUNVA. To date, members have participated in most 1916 centenary commemorations, including the commemorative service at Arbour Hill; the ANZAC Day dawn service held at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Blackhorse Ave, and in the UK; and the events at the RHK, the War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge, and the Garden of Remembrance. As membership has grown the as- sociation has also established an ex- tensive network of relationships with similar organisa- tions including the associations of 5 Inf Bn, 2 Inf Bn, and the Military Police, as well as the Royal British Legion (RBL). It is the mutual support provided by these organisations that allows our association to engage in and support chari- table works. On Saturday 9th April we held our first Annual Shoot for the Deceased Members of the Regiment, to honour and remem- ber our comrades who have passed away. The competition was held in Harbour House Sports Club, Lougharbour, Athy, Co Kildare, which is a family-run range established by Comdt Tommy O'Brien (retd). www.harbourhouseshooting.com I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the 2 Regt Assoc to thank Tommy, Dee, Toby, Joe, and all the club members who helped make the competition such a very special occasion for us. It was ab- solutely brilliant to see some of the older gunners show that they still had it and were more competitive than some of the younger gunners - I think it was for bragging rights in the mess! After the competition we retired to the clubhouse where Tommy assisted with the medal presentation. The recipients in the pistol com- petition were Paul Gifford (1st), Sean Roche (2nd) and David Byrne (3rd), while the medals in the rifle competi- tion were Niall O'Shea (1st), John Oxberry (2nd) and Paul McHendrie (3rd). After the presentation Tommy said: "The weather has been atrocious all week but today the sun is shining; maybe St Barbara herself was looking down on us." (St Barbara be- ing the patron saint of artillerymen.) CQMS Paul Gifford, secretary of the association, thanked everyone for attending and reminded us: "This is a historical occasion, and we are very proud to remember our comrades who have passed on, in our first Annual Shoot for Deceased Members of the regiment." The highlight of the day was the presentation by CQMS Gifford to the overall winner Gnr David Byrne (retd) who, with a combined score of 384, became the first winner of the plaque awarded to the winner of the Annual Shoot for Deceased Members of the 2 Fd Arty Regt Assoc - Experto Crede (Latin motto: Trust in one experienced). To find out more visit: https://2fara.wordpress.com/ Tommy O'Brien presenting Paul Gifford with his 1st place pistol medal. Paul Gifford presents Gnr David Byrne (retd) with the overall winner award.

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