An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 29 Fittingly, then, in the centenary year of the Rising the Government decided to award a special commemora- tive medal to each member of Óglaigh na hÉireann in service in 2016. The medal honours Óglaigh na hÉire- ann's continuous service to the State since its founda- tion and also acknowledges the central role it played across all seven strands of the centenary programme throughout 2016. This is a unique award as never before have all PDF and RDF personnel in service during a particular year been awarded a medal. The nearest precedent was the Emergency Service Medal, for service during the period 1939 to 1946; the largest single award of medals in our history. Maj Gen Kevin Cotter (DCOS Sp) appointed a board, under the chairmanship of Lt Col Johnny Whittaker (OiC 'A' Admin Sec), to investigate and report on the introduction, striking and criteria for the award of the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal. Meanwhile, the Dept of An Taoiseach formed a working group comprising; DF, DoD, the Ireland 2016 office (the State Centenary Programme Office), and the OPW, to plan the medal award ceremonies as an integral part of the Centenary Programme in Q4 of 2016. The medal design, taking its inspiration from the 1916 Medal and the 1916 Survivors Medal, recognises our forebears who fought in Easter 1916 and the ob- verse is based on the crest of the Irish Volunteers – an emblem still in use by Óglaigh na hÉireann today that has remained unchanged since it was introduced in 1913. Among those who designed the crest was the Volun- teers' chief of staff, Eoin MacNeill, Professor of Early Medieval Studies at UCD and a key mover in the Gaelic revival movement that inspired many who fought during the revolutionary period. The design included the sunburst (representing the legendary Fianna), the warrior's belt and the eight-pointed star – all of which are replicated in the design of the 2016 medal. In deference to the veterans of 1916, the Cúchalainn motif has been replaced with the original Volunteers' emblem, including the 'FF' (standing for Fianna Fáil), a reference to the legendary army of elite warriors sworn to defend Ireland. The addition of the 'IV' at the three- and nine-o'clock positions on the medal em- phasises the historic connection with the Irish Volun- teers, in the same way that the buttons on a soldier's uniform today still bear the same logo. The reverse of the medal carries the emblem of the Ireland 2016 State Centenary Programme, incorporat- ing seven diamonds, which remind the wearer of the seven signatories of the Proclamation, as well as the seven strands in the Centenary Programme of events. The ribbon design exactly matches the colours used in the original 1916 ribbon and incorporates a white strip down the centre. Each medal will be contained in a presentation case, with a message to each recipient from Government, as follows: An Bonn Comórtha Céad Bliain 1916 / The 1916 Cen- tenary Commemorative Medal "Bronntar an bonn seo ortsa, comhalta atá ag fónamh in Óglaigh na hÉireann, i mbliain seo an chomórtha, 2016. Is comhartha speisialta buíochais atá sa Bhonn Comórtha Céad Bliain maidir leis an tseirbhís neamhleithleasach a thugann saighdiúirí, mairné- alaigh agus aerchriúnna Óglaigh na hÉireann, atá ag fónamh ar son na hÉireann agus mhuintir na hÉireann ó bunaíodh an Stát. Tríd an mbonn seo a bhronnadh ort, déanaimid comóradh ar chéad bliain ó Éirí Amach na Cásca 1916 agus aithnímid an ról tábhachtach a bhí ag Óglaigh na hÉireann i saol na hÉireann san am a caitheadh agus atá acu i mbliain seo an chomórtha." - Rialtas na hÉireann, Mí na Nollag 2016 "This medal is hereby awarded to you, a serving member of Óglaigh na hÉireann, in this centenary year of 2016. An Bonn Comórtha Céad Bliain is a special token of our appre- The National Flag Raising Ceremony at Dublin Castle on New Year's Day 2016, highlighting the role of Óglaigh na hÉireann in supporting ceremonial events across all 31 local authorities. Flags for Schools' was launched in Castlebar, Co Mayo. With over 3,200 schools visited across the Republic, educating some 500,000 children about the true meaning of our National Flag by DF personnel.

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