RDF Newslr Aut/Wint No25 D2_Layout 1 08/12/2013 13:47 Page 1 Cumann na nlar - Oifigeach Coimisiúnta newsletter Association of Retired Commissioned Officers Issue No:25 (Autumn/Winter 13) ARCO Web Site: www.iarco.info New Chief of Staff New Deputy Chief of Staff - Logistics Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has The Government on the recommendation of promoted a Naval Service officer to the the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, position of Defence Forces Deputy Chief of Mr Alan Shatter T.D., has nominated Deputy Staff for the first time in the State’s history. Chief of Staff Support Major General Conor Commodore Mark Mellett was confirmed in the new O’Boyle for appointment by the President as position by Cabinet, following Mr Shatter’s nomination. Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. The promotion is perceived as recognition of the strategic importance of the maritime economy, and the Major-General Conor O’ Boyle joined the Defence Naval Service’s role in patrolling one of Europe’s Forces in 1970 and was commissioned into the Artillery largest sea areas. Corps of the Army in 1972. He has served in a wide variety of appointments and ranks throughout the Cmdr Mellett, who holds a distinguished service medal Defence Forces as a commander, staff officer and for drug interdiction, has been associated with instructor. His overseas experience includes over three developing the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource and half years in the Middle East with UNTSO and Cluster in Cork, which is focusing on ocean energy UNIFIL with multiple tours to Lebanon, Syria and Israel research and innovation partnerships. From Mayo, and also a three year appointment in Brussels as the Cmdr Mellett joined the Naval Service in 1976 and his Deputy Irish Military Representative to the EU from first command was the LÉ Orla in 1992, followed by the 2003-2006. LÉ Ciara in 1997 and the flagship LÉ Eithne in 2005. Major-General O’ Boyle was promoted to general rank in October 2009 and has commanded the 1st Southern The President and Executive Committee Brigade in Cork and the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh. He was appointed to his current of ARCO wish all their members position as Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) in March A Happy and Healthy Christmas 2012 and has responsibility for Logistics, Finance, and a Prosperous New Year Human Resources, Administration and Legal Matters for the Defence Forces. He is married to Fionnula and has two children, Ciara and Ian. He is a keen golfer and has a long association EDITOR’S NOTE with the Curragh Golf Club. The newsletter is issued in Spring and Autumn. Articles or items of interest are always welcome. If you have any contribution please send them to the editor at [email protected] or post to Col B. O’Connor (Retd) 92 The Paddocks, Naas, Co. Kildare. RDF Newslr Aut/Wint No25 D2_Layout 1 08/12/2013 13:47 Page 2 McKee Officers Club McKee Officers Club is a social club which enables Membership of the club is open to all retired commissioned retired officers of the Defence Forces (Permanent and officers of the Defence Forces who have served in McKee Reserve) to maintain contact with colleagues after they Barracks, DFHQ or any other barracks within the Eastern Brigade area. have retired. Far too often strong bonds of friendship developed over years of service fade and disappear In accordance with the existing agreement, members of McKee after retirement. Officers Club will become Associate Members of McKee Officers Mess thereby enabling them to avail of the Mess facilities and attend many of the social events held in the Mess during the year. The annual subscription to the club is £10 which is due on the date membership is approved by Council and thereafter on the 1st October each year. The club endeavours to provide "something for everyone", arranging events to which members are welcome to invite a friend. Every year outings are arranged to locations such as Stormont, the Titanic Centre, War of Independence Sites, Defence Forces Establishments, Clonmacnoise, Chester Beaty Museum and Christchurch To apply for membership please contact: Cathedral. Hon. Secretary, McKee Officer's Club, CIO McKee Officer's Mess, McKee Barracks, Blackhorse Aven ue, Dublin 7. Tel: 01 8046194 Or E-mail: [email protected] “Oh Come all ye faithful” Suggestions from members for outings are always welcome. The club is fortunate in having the use of the excellent auditorium in McKee Barracks which is ideal for our guest speakers who cover a wide range of topics including the arts, history, sport and current affairs. 2 RDF Newslr Aut/Wint No25 D2_Layout 1 08/12/2013 13:47 Page 3 Spike Island through the Centuries: A (Very) Short History By Author Hugh Beckett*, 2013 This year, 2013, marks the 75th anniversary of the It became British Government property as concerns grew over handover of the treaty ports from British control to the possibility of invasion by the French and a battery of twenty Irish control. Spike Island was one of the Forts within one 24 pounder guns was completed by July 1779. Military development of the island continued apace, with estimates of an Cork Harbour which had been retained by Britain average of £4,000, per month, being spent on the fortifications under one of the special clauses of the December here and at Bantry Bay. The larger, centrally positioned fort being 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty. Once all the details of the built there (to replace the earlier earthwork fortification at the handover were decided in a series of meetings eastern end of the island) was named after the Earl of between Irish and British representatives from Westmoreland. The Barracks was built later in 1806 and the May 1938 onwards, the historic date of the 11th July island was established as an ordnance depot in 1811. The cost of works on the island appeared to have reached £1,000,000 was set. around this time, according to Edward Wakefield in his 1812 book “Ireland, Statistical and Political”. In 1847, Spike Island first became a depot for convicts, with room for 2000 ‘guests’ by 1850. Irish patriots such as John Mitchel were temporarily held there, while in later years convicts were sent there for hard labour, working on the extension of the fortifications. The amount of convict work done nearly matched the cost of running the prison itself, according to the Presbyterian Chaplain to Spike island, the Reverend C.B. Gibson. The convicts were withdrawn in 1883 and the island came under full military control from then on. Its main function all the way up to 1938 was as the British Headquarters for the South Irish Coast Defences (S.I.C.D.). Tourists at the gates of Fort Mitchel on Spike Island Spike was again used as a place of internment of ‘Irish Rebels’ during the War of Independence, due to the perception that it Spike Island itself had already had quite a long and varied history was a secure facility to hold these political prisoners. Despite this up to this point, with the first mention of its status as a 'Holy Isle' perception, there were apparently at least two breakouts of IRA in the 7th century coming from Cardinal Moren's edition of prisoners from the island. One of these took place in late "Archdall's Monastican Hibernicum". Saint Mochuada (or March/early April 1921 and was a combined operation between Carthage) was granted lands including Spike Island (called Inis the Cobh, Shanbally and Ringaskiddy IRA companies. They Pice in old Irish, or else Pick Island at that time) after curing acquired a motor launch, while the internees prepared their plans Cathal, the King of Munster, of all his diseases through prayer. He to overwhelm the guards. Once the Destroyer (that was usually then built a monastery on the island, living on it for one year, and moored in the channel on the Ringaskiddy side of the island) it was subsequently known as a holy site. At least 40 of his made a morning trip to the pier, the launch left Cobh to moor off brothers remained on the island after he left, maintaining the high Spike. The internees waited for the signal, which was a pennant profile of the island. raised on the boat. Three prisoners managed to knock out and disarm the guards and escape down to the shore, including Sean There is little further record of the island up until the 12th McSwiney (brother of the late Terence McSwiney), where the century, which was probably due to the disappearance of the launch was able to pick them up and bring them to the tower at Monastery (perhaps a victim of one of the many raids by the Ringaskiddy. A pony and trap took them up past Raffeen, where Danes in the area). There was, however, still a church on the they then made their way on foot towards Carrigaline, to a pre- island (Saint Ruison’s) in 1178, suggesting that it was still arranged rendezvous. regarded as a holy site. Following on from this, with the Normans taking control of the area, the island was mostly owned by Another version of this story gives a bit more detail about the various landed families. The island’s ownership changed hands escape. It mentions that the garrison officers were attempting to on numerous occasions until it remained uninhabited for a time in lay out a golf course on the south east coast of the island and, on the mid 18th century and gained notoriety as a landing place for that day, these three prisoners were working on this particular smugglers.