00-An Cos-AUGUST-09 (p1-9) 13/08/2009 19:29 Page 1 THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE ( E S T A B L I S H E D 1 9 4 0 ) AUGUST 2009 €3.00 (Stg £2.70) ISSN 0010-9460 0 6 Atalanta page 14 Energy page 20 RDF page 30 9 770010 946001 00-An Cos-AUGUST-09 (p1-9) 13/08/2009 19:29 Page 2 00-An Cos-AUGUST-09 (p1-9) 14/08/2009 10:20 Page 3 An Cosantóir V O L U M E 6 9 N u m b e r 6 AUGUST 2 0 0 9 MANAGER: Lessons Learnt Peak Overseas commanders Capt Pádraic Kennedy 9 Performance 23 retell their experiences in conflict. A former soldier EDITOR: climbs a mountain for Sgt David Nagle charity. JOURNALIST: Report by Report by Wesley Bourke Wesley Bourke Sgt Rena Kennedy Terry McLaughlin CONNECT: Tour de Force Life, Liberty Cpl Paul O’Neill Defence Forces prepares 13 and Security 26 to host CISM Cycling PHOTOGRAPHER: Championships. of Person Armn Billy Galligan The Chief of Staff contributes to Amnesty SUBSCRIPTIONS: International book. Report by Cpl Paul O’Neill Report by Comdt Michael Doyle Lt Gen Dermot Earley ADVERTISING: EU Publishing Operation Fit to Fight Michael Whelan Atalanta 14 in Kosovo 28 Brian Clarke Irish Naval Officers partic- Irish troops take part Tel: 01 7071931 ipate in EU-led Naval in endurance march Email: [email protected] Force in combating piracy. and 10k run. [email protected] Report by Report by Comdt Sean Dunne & Printed by Lt Cdr Martin Brett Capt Diarmuid O’Sullivan Turner Print Group, Longford. The ’69 A Helping The fact that an article Rangers 16 Hand 30 appears in this magazine does The original group of Army RDF help out in Special not indicate official approval rangers gather for a very Olympics projects. of the views expressed by the special reunion. Report by author. Lt John McCandless, Capt Bernard Morgan Report by © Published by & Sgt Eamon Lenihan Wesley Bourke OiC Public Relations Section for the Defence Forces at DFHQ, Infirmary Road, Caught on Book Reviews Dublin 7, Ireland. Camera 18 Not While I have Ammo: 33 Tel: 01 8042691 and Yesterday We Were Photo Montage from the in America. Fax: 01 6779018 UNSG Visit and the National E-mail: ancosantoir Day of Commemoration. @defenceforces.iol.ie Photos by Report by Armn Billy Galligan Sgt David Nagle Energy Aware On Exhibit Defence Forces Energy 20 The Kilkenny Militia. 34 Policy goes from strength Front cover: to strength. President McAleese lays a wreath at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Also shown is Cpl Alan Sherlock (left) and Report by Report by Cpl Eoin Finlay (right). Capt Sharon McManus Mr Gareth Prendergast AN COSANTÓIR August 2009 3 00-An Cos-AUGUST-09 (p1-9) 13/08/2009 19:29 Page 4 news update… news update… news update… Top Marks Congratulations to Capt Niall O’Hara (DFHQ) who in July was named best student of the 19 Jr C&S Cse. Pictured here in the Military College (l-r) are: Dr Ian Speller (NUIM), Brig Gen Sean McCann (GOC DFTC), Capt Niall O’Hara, Col Tom Doyle (Sch Comdt Inf Sch) and Lt Col Tom Aherne (Chief Instr Inf Sch). Photo by Sgt JJ Ryan (HQ DFTC). We are the champions The 3 Inf Bn soccer team won this year’s Cunningham Cup held at the Peamount Grounds, Co Dublin in June, beating the 5 Inf Bn 3-1 in a tightly fought match. Photo by Armn Billy Galligan. Bottom (left): Col Billy Nott (DLS) who retired in June Farewell is seen here with members of his cadet class (37) Recently, the Defence Forces said a fond farewell to two outside the Offrs Mess, McKee Bks. Col Nott was the long-serving soldiers and a nurse. They were: last serving officer of a group of cadets that in 1963 travelled to Washington to render military honours at Left: BQMS Joe Quigley (4 LSB) is pictured here with his the graveside of US President John F Kennedy. Photo wife Catherine on the occasion of his stand down parade by Armn Billy Galligan. in May. A native of Athleague, Co Roscommon, Joe joined the Defence Forces in 1967 and served in the 6 and 28 Inf Below: In July, Bns, 4 W CTD, 4 Grn Ord Coy and 4 LSB. He served 17 Matron Emily times overseas in Cyprus, Lebanon, Kosovo, Bosnia and McDonagh (LBH) Sudan and was a keen sportsman, taking part in many retired from the athletic and orienteering events. Photo by Sgt Dermot Army Nursing Kelly (HQ 4 W Bde). Service after 40 years of service and she is seen here with Lt Gen Dermot Earley (COS), who wished her the very best in the future. Photo by Armn Billy Galligan. 4 AN COSANTÓIR August 2009 00-An Cos-AUGUST-09 (p1-9) 13/08/2009 19:29 Page 5 ate… news update… news update… news update… NEWS UPDATE Running Mourne Men Pictured (l-r) are: Lt John Forde (2 Cav Sqn), Pte Declan Forde, Man Cpl Peter Maguire, Pte Kieran McAleavey, Cpl Pat Carville (All Gnr Alan O’Brien (HQ DFTC) B Coy 5 Inf Bn) who took part in the Mourneway endurance pulled off a major coup on Marathon on June 12th. Photo courtesy of Lt John Forde. June 20th by winning the 1,500m event at the European Team Slán Championships in Slovakia. In July, the Chief of Go West Alan from Celbridge, Co Staff called into Just before they headed out on a long-range patrol, the gunners from 4 Kildare won in a time of Gormanston Camp Fd Arty Regt, currently serving in Chad with the 100 Inf Bn MINURCAT 3:50:17 beating Croatia’s to meet the PDF and stopped to pose for the camera. Photo courtesy of Sgt Maj Noel Slavko Petrovic and Austria’s RDF Air Defence gun- O’Callaghan (100 Inf Bn MINURCAT). Felis Kernbicher. Photo by ners who were on Armn Billy Galligan. their annual shoot. Lt Gen Dermot Earley is Ahoy pictured here with In June, the Naval Association brought a group of Capt Denis Midshipmen from the Fragata ARA Libertad on a tour of O’Donovan (4 AD Bty) Dublin City. The Argentinean training vessel was on a five-day who is due to retire visit and some of the crew are pictured here with Declan this year. Photo by Pendred and Herbert McManus (Both Naval Association) at Armn Billy Galligan. John Rogerson’s Quay. Photo courtesy of Declan Pendred. Eyes Front In May, His Excellency Mr Brian Nason (Ambassador to Belgium and NATO PfP) took time out of his busy schedule to meet Irish troops serving with 40 Inf Gp KFOR in Kosovo. He is seen here inspecting a guard of honour on his arrival in Camp Clarke. Photo by Sgt Coffey (40 Inf Gp). AN COSANTÓIR August 2009 5 00-An Cos-AUGUST-09 (p1-9) 13/08/2009 19:30 Page 6 news update… news update… news update… So That Others May Live Photographs by Air Corps Photographic Section On June 26th Air Corps personnel gathered to remember the late Capt David O’Flaherty DSM, Capt Michael Baker DSM, Sgt Patrick Mooney DSM and Cpl Niall Byrne DSM, who tragically died while returning to Waterford Airport from a search-and-rescue mission on July 1st 1999. At the ceremony, attended by family, friends and colleagues of the crew, a wreath was laid at the Air Corps memorial outside the Church of the Loreto following Mass, celebrated by Fr Jerry Carroll CF. The Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Dermot Earley, was also in attendance and took the opportunity to talk to the families and Air Corps personnel. Last year, the crew were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (with honour). Right: Lt Gen Dermot Earley with Davina O’Flathery, daughter of the late Capt David O’Flatherty DSM. Far right: Pictured (l-r) are: Lt Gen Dermot Earley (COS), Brig Gen Ralph James (GOC AC), Col Paul Fry (CAS Ops) and Fr Jerry Carroll CF (Padre Casement Aerodrome). Below: An honour guard presents arms; and (inset) A wreath is laid in honour of the crew. 6 AN COSANTÓIR August 2009 00-An Cos-AUGUST-09 (p1-9) 13/08/2009 19:30 Page 7 ate… 00-An Cos-AUGUST-09 (p1-9) 13/08/2009 19:30 Page 8 news update… news update… news update… Sports Round-Up 2009 Defence Forces Golf Championships The Defence Forces Golf Championships took place in Fota Island Golf Club, Co Cork in early July with over 140 military golfers playing on the world famous course. Congratulations to Sgt Kieran Kennedy (31 Res Winners of the 2009 Arty Regt) shown left, Marlborough Cup: winner of this year’s Cathal Brugha Golf championships. Photo by: Society. They are stand- Armn Billy Galligan. ing (l-r) are: Mr Jim Wilson, Pte Brian Gibney, Pte Anto Kelly, Marlborough Cup Mr Damian Bailie, Sgt The Cathal Brugha Golf Stephen Bailie, Pte Noel Society won this year’s McDonnell, Mr Tony McDonnell, Mr Mick Marlborough Cup held at Caffrey and Sgt Maj the South County Golf Andrew Murphy. Club on July 13th. Now in Seated: Mr Jim its fifth year, the Redmond, Coy Sgt Marlborough Cup is a golf Aidan Power and CQMS competition between Jack Burgess. Photo by: McKee, Pronto (DFHQ Sgt David Nagle. CIS Coy) and Cathal Left: Sgt Colin Brugha Golf Societies Campbell pots his final and the brainchild of Sgt ball on the 18th hole. Colin Campbell (DFHQ Photo by: Sgt David CIS Coy).