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00-An Cos-sept-09 (p1-9) 07/09/2009 17:24 Page 1 THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE ( E S T A B L I S H E D 1 9 4 0 ) SEPTEMBER 2009 €3.00 (Stg £2.70) ISSN 0010-9460 0 7 25-pounder page 18 Chad page 20 Adventure page 28 9 770010 946001 00-An Cos-sept-09 (p1-9) 07/09/2009 17:24 Page 2 00-An Cos-sept-09 (p1-9) 07/09/2009 17:24 Page 3 An Cosantóir V O L U M E 6 9 N u m b e r 7 SEPTEMBER 2 0 0 9 MANAGER: Keep on On the Ball The GAA celebrates Capt Pádraic Kennedy Running 9 26 its 125th birthday. The An Cosantóir 10k EDITOR: run is 30 years old. Sgt David Nagle JOURNALIST: Report by Report by Wesley Bourke Sgt David Nagle Comdt Tom O’Keeffe Terry McLaughlin CONNECT: Combating Taming the Cpl Paul O’Neill Fear 12 Beast 28 Confidence training The Beast of PHOTOGRAPHER: in the Defence Ballyhoura Armn Billy Galligan Forces. adventure race. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Report by Report by Cpl Paul O’Neill Capt Ollie Clear Wesley Bourke ADVERTISING: EU Publishing Mercury Rising Military Michael Whelan The CIS Corps in 16 Insignia 30 Brian Clarke action. Tel: 01 7071931 Badges of the 19, 21 Email: [email protected] and 22 Inf Bn FCÁ. [email protected] Report by Report by Printed by Flt Sgt James G Sgt David Nagle Turner Print Group, Perkins Longford. Out with a Childaid The fact that an article Bang 18 Celebrating ten years in 31 appears in this magazine does existence. Photo Montage from not indicate official approval the last 25 Pounder of the views expressed by the Shoot. author. Photos by © Published by Report by Armn Billy Galligan OiC Public Relations Section Wesley Bourke for the Defence Forces at DFHQ, Infirmary Road, Pioneers of Let Us Dublin 7, Ireland. Sector South 20 Remember 32 Tel: 01 8042691 Patrolling in Chad. ONE launches a Fax: 01 6779018 new badge to raise E-mail: ancosantoir it profile. @defenceforces.iol.ie Report by Report by Comdt Fred O’Donovan Sgt David Nagle ‘Enemy Seen’ On Exhibit Soldiers learn how to 23 The Irish and the 33 find the enemy. Confederate Blockade. Front cover: Troops undergoing water Report by confidence training in Wicklow. Report by Col Des Travers Photo by Armn Billy Galligan. Lt Gavin Egerton (Retd) AN COSANTÓIR September 2009 3 00-An Cos-sept-09 (p1-9) 07/09/2009 18:13 Page 4 news update… news update… news update… In Command Leaders of Men On July 28th, Col Conor O’Boyle took over as OC 1 S Bde Pictured here are Comdts John Lynch, Jim Murphy, Canice on the retirement of Brig Gen Pat Hayes. Col O’Boyle is Brennan and Mick Carroll who are all serving in various seen here inspecting his first honour guard at his new head- appointments with 40 Inf Gp KFOR in Kosovo. Photos by: quarters Collins Bks, Cork City. Photo by: Sgt Richard Fr Bernard McCay-Morrissey CF. Murtagh (HQ 1 S Bde). Brain Box My Fair Ladies Lt Cdr Brian Dempesy (OC LÉ Aoife) and some of Congratulations to Sgt Pat his crew are pictured here with the 2009 Rose of Finucane (DFHQ) seen here Tralee contestants, who paid a courtesy call with his wife Ms Jan Carroll on to the ship on August 22nd. Congratulations the occasion of his recent grad- to this year’s winner – London Rose, uation from DCU, were he Ms Charmaine Kenny. Charmaine is received an MA in International pictured here, second left to Lt Cdr Dempesy Relations (Honours). Photo (centre). Photo: Mr Joe Hanley (NUJ). courtesy of: Sgt Finucane. Teamwork In July, 100 Inf Bn MINURCAT held a battalion shooting (pistol, rifle and falling plates) competition between the Irish and Finnish contin- gents. Our Irish marksmen came out the victors and are pictured with their Finnish counterparts. Photo courtesy of: Sgt Maj Noel O’Callaghan (100 Inf Bn MINURCAT). Recon Pictured here are the instruc- tors and student of a recent Basic Recce Course, con- ducted by the 3 Inf Bn. They are back row (l-r): Lt McGrath, Pte Ryan, 2/Lt O’Connor, Pte Kane, Tpr King and Cpl Pollard. Middle row (l-r): Tpr Murphy, Ptes Moriarty, Raymond Henebry and Tpr O’Dwyer. Front row UNOGIL Remembered (l-r): Lt Halpin (Instr), Comdt Pictured (l-r): Brig Gen Gerry Hegarty (GOC 4 W Bde), Brig O’Connor (2i/c 3 Inf Bn), Lt Gen Pat Dixon (retd), Senator Mary O’Rourke, Mr Egbert Heddermane, Lt Egerton Moran (Mayor of Athlone) and Col Jim Fagan (retd) at a (OiC Course) and Sgt Weafer Civic reception in Athlone last November. Brig Gen Dixon (Instr). Photo by: Ms Róisín and Col Fagan were both honoured for being part of the first Hickey. See page 23 for more. Irish overseas mission to Lebanon in 1958. Photo: Col Fagan. 4 AN COSANTÓIR September 2009 00-An Cos-sept-09 (p1-9) 07/09/2009 18:13 Page 5 ate… news update… news update… news update… On Tour In July, Members of the Fr James Gilmore Br ONE and the 7 Inf Bn FCÁ Association visited Casement Aerodrome. The group got a tour of the base, its hangers and museum. They are pictured here in front of a PC9 Trainer. Photo courtesy of: Mr Seán Shinnors NEWS UPDATE (Fr James Gilmore Br ONE). Stand Down In July, the 32 Inf Res Bn said farewell to one of its longest serving soldier, Comdt Michael O’Connor at a stand down parade in Ballymullen Bks, Tralee, Co Kerry. Comdt Michael O’Connor is pictured front row, second from left with troops from 32 Res Inf Bn. Photo by: Mr Joe Hanley (NUJ). Homeward Bound Pictured outside their base at Camp Butmir, Sarajevo is the officers and NCOs of 9 Ircon EUFOR, who ended their six-month tour with the mission recently. Photo courtesy of: Lt Col Billy Harrington (SIO 9 Ircon EUFOR). AN COSANTÓIR September 2009 5 00-An Cos-sept-09 (p1-9) 07/09/2009 18:32 Page 6 news update… news update… news update… Aidan Holly 5k Fun Run Photographs by Fr Bernard McCay-Morrissey CF. On July 29th, 93 troops from 40 Inf Gp KFOR took part Police on the route to control traffic along with a lot in the ‘Aidan Holly’ 5k Fun Run in Kosovo. In 2008, Pte of support from the local villagers. Aidan Holly (4 Inf Bn) died tragically while on holiday Pte Gavin Sweeney won the race in a finishing in Spain and his family generously donated a consid- time of 16mins 45secs. Gavin had previously put in Top left: Pte Fahy leads the erable sum of money to the group for a humanitarian excellent performances in both the Pristina Half- HMG team. project in Kosovo. Marathon in May and the US July 4th 10k. Cpl Leonard Above: Pte Sweeney strides The aim of the run and similar fundraising projects Bolster finished second and Cpl Martin Brady took home to win. organised by 40 Inf Gp were to raise money for the third place. In the female category, Cpl Bridget Ahern was first home with a time of 24mins 8secs, beating Left: Cpl Hutchinson, CQMS Aidan Holly housing project in the village of Janjevo. McGrath and Pte Coniry, just The Group identified this as a very worthy cause and Cpl Audrey Doyle into second and Pte Julie O’Brien glad to have finished. is currently constructing a house for a family who are into third place. living in unfortunate circumstances. The run was well organised by Lt Larry Scallan, Below: Sgt Maj Prendergast, Lt Col Des Bergin (OC 40 Inf Gp) thanked all com- ably assisted by Capt Eamon Kenneally, CQMS Mick Sgts Setrigh, Irwin, Lt (NS) Carey, Sgts Prendergast and petitors for donning their running shoes before offi- McGrath, Tpr Bob Farrell and a host of other volun- Sgt Carroll. cially starting the race. Though there were a few repu- teers. The Aidan Holly 5k Fun Run was a great suc- tations at stake, for most the main objective was fun! cess and over €600 was raised for a worthy project. Bottom: Lt Col Bergin (with There were plenty of stewards, MPs and Kosovo Well done to all involved. shotgun) starts the race. 6 AN COSANTÓIR September 2009 00-An Cos-sept-09 (p1-9) 07/09/2009 18:16 Page 7 ate… 00-An Cos-sept-09 (p1-9) 07/09/2009 16:53 Page 8 news update… news update… news update… Brig Gen Hayes Retires Photographs by Armn Billy Galligan, Sgt Richard Murtagh (HQ 1 S Bde) and Fr Bernard McCay-Morrissey CF (40 Inf Gp). Brig Gen Pat Hayes (GOC 1 S Bde) took his last salute on the occasion of his stand down parade on July 21st. Colleagues, family and friends gath- ered in Collins Bks, Cork City as Brig Gen Hayes inspected troops from his command. Brig Gen Hayes served in various command and staff appointment at home and overseas. He is married to Kay and they have three children, Ciaran Cillan and Orla. Right (top): Brig Gen Hayes inspects an honour guard for the last time. Right (centre): Pictured (l-r) in the Officers Mess, Collins Bks are: Kay, Orla, Ciaran, Cillian Hayes, Lt Gen Dermot Earley (COS), Mary Hayes and Brig Gen Pat Hayes. Bottom: In June Brig Gen Hayes visited troops from his command in Ireland serving with 40 Inf Gp KFOR.