An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir October 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 8 | MilitaryShows REPoRtS & PhotoS by CPL LEE COYLE salute military show, swords The 10th annual Salute military show took place the weekend of 27th to 28th of August, and was held in the National Show Centre Swords, Co Dublin. An Cosantóir was invited along to set up a stall and to view some of the highlights of the show. The show features military vehicles, vintage, re-enact- ment and living history, and is organised by the Associa- tion of Irish Military Enthusiasts (AIME). Some of the shows highlights were a WWII re-enactment, showing a military convoy that had been hit-up by Axis forces, with a patrol being sent out to find out what happened. They were then attacked while assessing the situation and a counter attack was carried out. There was also a very enjoyable attack dog display, showing different skills and tricks that police and military dogs would have to per- form in everyday war-torn and policing environments. The attack dog display was ran by Alpha Dogs who specialise in producing police and military working dogs. They have worked on such projects as Reality Bites on RTÉ. The usual display of vehicles was on show, including some ACMAT VLRA trucks, M151 utility jeep and the Wil- lys Jeep that was featured in April's magazine. The Militaria and Collectors market had a good num- ber of vendors, with dealers offering a wide range of Irish and World military artefacts. There was a great turnout of visitors with a footfall of almost 3,000. The show was very well organised and is a must for all military enthusiasts or anyone who has an interest or would like to know more about military life. Over the past 9 years the proceeds of the show are donated to a charity, with a total of €70,000 being do- nated to some very worthwhile charitable causes. This year the nominated charity is St Francis Hospice in Raheny, Dublin. Keep up the good work Salute. living history – military liFe show, phoenix park A Living History Weekend showing aspects of military life was held in the Phoenix Park on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th of September. Admission was free and was a great way to spend the day with family and friends. The Phoenix Park is the perfect place to hold such an event with its rich history and has always been associated with the military. The fourth Earl of Chesterfield who was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland took up residency in the Park; this is reflected in the extensive use of lodges and buildings used by the mili- tary and government officers during this period. These included the Vice Regal Lodge for the Lord Lieutenant (now Áras an Uachtaráin) and the Chief Secretary's Residence (now the residence of the U.S. ambassador to Ireland). The Park was frequently used for military manoeuvres and practices, and a number of military institutions were established, which included the Royal Hibernian Military School (1766) for children who were orphaned or whose father was on active military service abroad. The Magazine Fort itself, constructed in 1736 was a major military instillation from which firearms, munitions and gunpowder were distributed to other military barracks. The Salute Battery (who provided cannon fire on Royal and other special occasions) was even situated in the environs of the park. Mountjoy Cavalry Barracks and the Royal Military Infirmary were two further military build- ings constructed in the park. This was their second event of this kind and was held in the Visitors Centre of the Phoenix Park. On display were the periods of military life from the Viking Era, Age of Chivalry, Napoleonic War, American Civil War, World War I, World War II and Vietnam. The period clothes of the time and displays of the day to day life was really interesting to see, with a great Viking re-enactment sword fight, plus a story teller, telling tails of dragons and spells, which all Game of Thrones fans would enjoy.

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