An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir February 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 8 | 8 | do You Have familY linKs wiTH THe earlY Years of ÓGlaiGH na HÉireann? By Sgt REnA KEnnEDy, PR BRAnCh T he Defence Forces had a very successful year during 2016 with involvement in all State ceremo- nial events marking 100 years since the Easter Rising. It was a momentous and memorable year playing such a pivotal role in the Sate's programme marking the centenary. Starting on 1st August 2015, mark- ing the centenary of the funeral of Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa at Glasn- evin Cemetery, through to the distri- bution of national flags to schools, the military parade on Easter Sunday, and the many other events throughout the country, members of the Defence Forces did their families, parishes, and their country proud. In the early planning stages of the public relations campaign for the centenary year, we put out a call to all DF members who had lineage to those who served and fought in 1916. This uncovered a number of extraordinary stories of currently serving members and their antecedents. PR Branch ensured that those with the strongest links would be used in high-profile roles throughout the year, as often as was practicable. An example is Sgt James Pearse, DFTC, great-grandson of James Connolly, who was entrusted with reading the Proclamation at Liberty Hall during the State's commemoration of the significant contribution of James Con- nolly and the Irish Citizen Army to the events of 1916. Also on that day, Sgt Robert Delaney, DFTC told the story of his great-grand- father, Capt Christopher Poole, of the Irish Citizen Army, who served in the St Stephen's Green garrison. These first- hand family accounts were invaluable in briefing the media on the unbroken chain that links the Defence Forces back to the foundation of the Irish Volunteers in 1913. Capt Gearóid Ó Briain, Air Corps, a great-grandson of Cathal Brugha (who fought at the GPO), carried the nation- al flag with pride during the military parade on Easter Sunday 2016. Each of the carriers of the flags of the Five Entities on the parade had family links to 1916, as did the parade MC, Lt Patrick Wilson, 2 AR, whose great-grandfather fought at the Royal College of Surgeons. Sgt Murt Purfield, 2 AR who was involved in the 21-gun salute to mark the conclusion of the parade, and who was also present at the commemoration at Boland's Mills on Easter Tuesday, was yet another with a direct link to the 1916 rebels. When we looked for serving mem- bers with links to 1916 we received many submissions referring to family lineage back to 1922 and beyond and as a result we are now requesting submissions from personnel who have family links back to the War of Inde- pendence or the establishment of the National Army in 1922. One such impressive record is held by Cpl Seán 'Kesh' Reilly, 1 MIC, whose family has unbroken service to the State since 1922: Sean's grandfather, Ben Reilly, served from July 1922 to January 1962; Seán's father, also Ben Reilly, served from March 1961 to August 1992; and Seán enlisted in November 1979. you need not have such continuous service in order to get in touch or make a submission. We are looking forward to receiving all correspon- dence, which can be emailed to: rena.kennedy@defenceforces.ie British troops watch over Dublin City during the War of Independence. Sgt James Pearse, DFTC, great-grandson of James Connolly reading out the Proclamation at Liberty Hall during the State's commemoration in 2016. Photo: Cpl Neville Coughlan National Army roll call in Limerick during Irish Civil War, Wednesday, 26th July 1922. Photo: National Library of Ireland Soldiers and officers of the Free State Army during the Irish Civil War (1922-1923). Photo: Pictorial Press Ltd

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