An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 9 By CPL VINNY O'REILLY, NO 5 SP WING, AIR CORPS A s a teenager my paternal grandfather, John o'Reilly, took part in the 1916 Rising with the 4th Bat- talion in Boland's Mills and Mount Street Bridge. he was interned in Mountjoy Prison during the Civil War in 1921, and later served in the Defence Forces during the Emergency. he died in Decem- ber 1954, and is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, close to his brother Joseph o'Reilly, who was on the opposing side during the Civil War. My maternal grandfather, Hugh Kessie, joined the Defence Forces in 1936, serving through the Emergen- cy, and then again from 1947 to 1972. He was based in Magee Bks, Kildare Town, before transferring to 5 Inf Bn in Dublin, where he was based in St Bricin's Hospital until his retirement in 1972. Hugh played in goal for the 5 In Bn GAA team during the 1950s, winning a number of medals. He was a storeman/cobbler and was one of the storemen who issued UN kit to the first Irish soldiers travelling to the Congo in 1960. Hugh died in December 1974. My father Peter O'Reilly, joined the Defence Forces in 1955, serving with 2 Grn Military Police and later with 2 Fd TPT Coy. After promo- tion to sergeant in 1970 he was posted to McKee Company, AHQ, retiring with the rank of company sergeant in 1979. He served two tours of duty with the UN in Cyprus in 1965 and 1966/67. After retiring from the Defence Forces, Peter got involved with ONE and was one of the founders of IUNVA. He was president of the Col Dan Fitzgerald Branch of ONE and vice-president of ONE in 1985. Peter died in November 2014. My brother, Stephen O'Reilly, joined the Defence Forces in October 1979, training in the Curragh with 3 Inf Bn before being posted to the Air Corps. He served as a crash rescue fireman until 1986 when he transferred to the Air Corps Photographic Section, Group HQ. Stephen served overseas with 53 Inf Bn, UNIFIL, in 1983 and retired in October 2000. I joined the Defence Forces in 1987 and was posted to the Air Corps where I am still serving as a transport corporal and driving instructor. Members of the family have served Ireland from before the foundation of the state: during the 1916 Rising, the Civil War, the Emergency, and beyond: a total of 100 years of service, which may come to 102 years, as I'm due to retire in 2018. Father Peter O'Reilly Brother Stephen O'Reilly Cpl Vinnie O'Reilly Grandfather John O'Reilly Grandfather Hugh Kessie

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