00-An Cos-mar-05 (p1-17) · ONET’s latest housing project in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Report by Cpl Paul Hevey 18 Book Review The Royal Irish Constabulary and the Black and Tans

■ Chief of Staff Interviewed

■ Overseas Logistics

■ The Forgotten Hero

■ Protecting Our Past

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An Cosantóirt h e d e f e n c e f o r c e s m a g a z i n e

March-Apri l 2005 €2.20 (Stg£1 .40 )

00-An Cos-mar-05 (p1-17) 3/24/05 11:34 AM Page 1

AN COSANTÓIR March-Apr il 2005 3

MANAGER:Capt Fergal Costello

EDITOR:Cpl Paul Hevey

JOURNALIST:Wesley BourkeCpl Michelle Byrne

CONNECT:Cpl Willie Braine

PHOTOGRAPHER:Armn Billy Galligan

SUBSCRIPTIONS:Cpl Dave Nagle

ADVERTISING:Above Board PublishingLorraine Byrne,Advertising ManagerTel: 0402-22800

Printed by Kilkenny People,Kilkenny.

The fact that an articleappears in this magazinedoes not indicate officialapproval of the viewsexpressed by the author.

© Published by OiC Public RelationsSection for the DefenceForces at DFHQ, Parkgate,Dublin 8, Ireland. Tel: 01 8042691Fax: 01 6779018E-mail: [email protected]

Front cover:Keeping ‘up to speed’ with the latest trainingtechniques.

An CosantóirV O L U M E 6 5

N u m b e r 2

M a r c h - A p r i l 2 0 0 5

www.military.ie/pr/an_cosantoir

i n s i d eNews UpdatePicture Parade 4 Rest and

RelaxationThe new Privates’ Messin Collins’ Bks, Cork.Report byCpl Paul Hevey

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Lt Gen Jim SreenanAn Cosantóir interviews the Defence Force’s Chief of Staff.

7 Capt SéamusKelly AwardsNominations for theAnnual LiteraryAwards 2004.

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Vietnam andBackFund-raising walk forthe Christina NobleFoundation.Report byPte Willie Connolly

11 TerenceMacSwineyThe Forgotten Hero(Part 2).Comdt BrendanO’Shea and CQMSGerry White

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Kosovo PlojeIn 1389 Serbia andAlbania were alliesagainst the OttomanEmpire.Report byCpl Michelle Byrne

12 Have You GotWhat It Takes?Advertising the ARW’sSelection CourseMIKE-ONE.

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OverseasLogistics in 2005Report byCapt Gavin Young

15 Protecting Our PastCollins’ Bks Museumand Reference Library.Report byCQMS Gerry White & Cpl Paul Hevey

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Caring for Our OwnONET’s latest housingproject in Letterkenny,Co Donegal.Report byCpl Paul Hevey

18 Book ReviewThe Royal Irish Constabulary and theBlack and Tans inCounty Louth, 1919-1922By Stephen O’Donnell

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4 AN COSANTÓIR March-Apr il 2005

news update… news update… news update…

Best of Luck!Sgt Maj Kevin Prendergast is pic-tured with Comdt Arthur Armstrongprior to his Stand-Down Parade onFebruary 11th 2005 in ColumbBarracks, Mullingar. We wish himwell in his retirement.

Honourary Medal for BQMSGerry Gervin (Civil Defence Director General) recentlypresented BQMS Gerry O’Connor with the HonoraryCivil Defence Medal for the Special Olympics in StColman's Church, Columb Bks, Mullingar.Photo: Sean Magee (Professional photographer).

A WelcomeVisit!The Minister for Defence MrWillie O’Dea TD recently visit-ed Sarsfield Bks, Limerick,and met the Senior Officersand NCOs of 12 InfantryBattalion. Minister O’Dea isseen here shaking handswith Capt Eager (Tpt Offr, 12 Inf Bn). Photo: Sgt GerryCosgrove (! S Bde HQ)

‘Spirit of Ireland’Bty Sgt Noel O’Callaghan, 4 Fd Arty Regt, Columb Bks, was recently present-ed with the Spirit of Ireland Award for community work by An Taoiseach MrBertie Aherne. Along with the ten other recipients of the Award, Bty SgtO’Callaghan met with President Mary McAleese in Aras an tUachtarain.

Moving On!Comdt Des Coleman, Bty Cmdr, 20 Bty, 9 Fd Arty Regt, is wished the ‘bestof luck’ in his future career by members of his Battery during his lastparade with the Regiment. Comdt Coleman, who is also General Secretaryof the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association based in theCurragh Camp, will now be attached to 4 W Bde HQ RDF for the remainingtwo years of his Reserve Career.

Bon Jour!Pictured during their recent visit toIreland, eight students from thePotential Officers Course, ÉcolesMilitaires Inter-Armées, Coëtquidan,Brittany, were given a tour of theDefence Force Training Centre,Curragh Camp, and CasementAerodrome, Baldonnel, as part oftheir military studies. Back row (l-r):2/Lts Jeremy Tasteyre, Jean-Christophe Bertin, VincentMarescaux, Rodolphe Mangel andArnaud Magueur. Front row: 2/LtsJulien Debongnie, Jean-PierreFenouillet and Michel Dieutre.



te… news update… news update… news update…

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our pastMr Willie O’Dea, TD (Ministerfor Defence) opens the newCollins’ Barracks Museumand Reference Library. Therewere many invited guests tothe event including the LordMayors of Cork County andCork City. (See page 28).

After a long haul…The members of 39 and 40 Recruit Platoons finished their Recruit Training in stylewhen they completed a Passing Out Parade on February 17th 2005 in Aiken Bks,Dundalk. Following a parade inspection by Brig Gen Gerry McNamara (GOC 2 EBde), 2* Pte Stephen McCabe, from Dublin, was presented with the Best RecruitAward for his endeavours during the last few months. Photo: Sgt Liam Nolan (HQCoy 27 Inf Bn).



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A year into your term as theDefence Force’s Chief of Staff,what are your thoughts as youlook back?My first thought is to thank the personnel of theDefence Force, both Permanent and Reserve andthe attached civilian staff, for their wonderful sup-port, commitment and performance over the pastyear, both at home and overseas. In the last year theDefence Force has rotated approximately 1,500 per-sonnel in 16 overseas missions, in addition to main-taining our ‘Aid to Civil Power’ and other commit-ments at home. From an army of 8,500 that is quitean achievement. Soldiering, whether it is carried outoverseas or at home, has become more demanding,missions are more complex and every task is per-formed under the watchful eye of the media.Nevertheless, our personnel have continued toexcel themselves, whether it be serving in Kabul,Pristina or Monrovia, providing ceremonial func-tions for the May Day accession of new memberstates to the EU, or providing security for the visitof the US President.

Overseas service is now no longer a nice add-onto our normal work; it is part and parcel of our nor-mal work. The missions we are now required toundertake means that we must rotate almost 20% ofour army personnel through overseas postings eachyear, and the figure for officers is above 30%. We arefortunate though, with the ongoing recruitment cam-paign and a steady turnover of personnel, that wehave the finest of young soldiers deploying on theirfirst missions – led by experienced officers andNCOs. At the turn of the year, when we had suc-cessfully met all of our overseas commitments, itwas very heartening to see we were still able todeploy a highly-experienced logistics officer to SriLanka at 24 hours notice, followed soon afterwardsby a logistical team, when the call came. Indeed,when the call goes out, as it invariably does, we arenot to be found wanting which is a great credit to ourpersonnel. In fact we are victims of our own success,because the more our people are seen in actionoverseas the more they are in demand.

Having regard to what you sayabout Defence Force’s personnel,are you unhappy with the way thebullying issues have remained inthe spotlight?When we were faced with the Doyle Report on inter-personal issues we accepted and acknowledged thefindings and then undertook to address the issues.Our first step was to publicise the report throughoutthe Defence Forces through a well-organised cam-paign. We could have chosen to pay lip service to thereport and hoped it would go away. We also knewthat by raising awareness of the issue it wouldremain in the public arena. Nevertheless, we havenow put in place a package of measures to safe-guard people, measures more comprehensive andfar-reaching than you will find in any other public orprivate organisation in Ireland. In addition to thesenew measures we have continued with procedureswhereby every soldier can take a grievance as far asthe Chief of Staff and the Minister for Defence, andnow the legislation has been passed for the intro-duction of an Ombudsman. There is also a confiden-tial help-line, totally external to the Defence Force,and we have put in place a ‘code of practice’ forinstructors at our school that includes an ongoingprogram to ‘embed’ best practices into the culture ofour organisation. We have also introduced the

AN COSANTÓIR INTERVIEWS

LT GEN JIM SREENANCHIEF OF STAFF, IRISH DEFENCE FORCE

Lt Gen Jim Sreenan, Chief of Staff,took time out of his busy schedule to give a very open andfrank interview with An Cosantóir,during which he looked back athis first year in office.Velupillai Prabhakaran


The past year saw the introductionof new officer promotion arrange-ments, are you happy with them?Of course I am happy with them – I signed up to them.Many people advised me that the existing arrange-ments were fine, don’t rock the boat; on the other hand,I was also advised to go for a highly competitive sys-tem, which would bring the brightest and best forwardat a very early stage. I have, however, always main-tained that armed forces are not like civilian organisa-tions, we cannot ‘buy in’ expertise when we need it, neither can we ‘offload’ easily those who become disillusioned. We need people who are highly-motivat-ed, highly-committed and highly-mobile, with frequentpostings around the country while serving at home, notto mention overseas… Such people are not to be foundamongst those who have been cut adrift without hopeat mid-career. The arrangements we have put in placereward merit, but not at the cost of snuffing out thehopes and aspirations of the majority of our officers.Our next step must be to refine the promotion arrange-ments for enlisted personnel.

What is your abiding memory of2004?It has to be the visit to our troops serving in Liberia,along with Uachtarán na hÉireann, President MaryMcAleese, and our new Minister for Defence, Mr WillieO’Dea TD. The praise that was heaped upon our unit bythe Chairman of Liberia’s Transitional Administration,the Special Representative of the United NationsSecretary General, and UNMIL’s Force Commanderwas quite unbelievable. Unbelievable, that is, until wewitnessed the expertise of the Quick Reaction Force


Designated Contact Person which provides trainedand suitable personnel outside of the chain of com-mand to assist those who feel they are being bulliedand those against whom allegations are made. So tocome back to your point, for the thousands of soldierswho labour away in very dangerous and demandingsituations, sometimes separated from their lovedones for prolonged periods these will seldom be inthe spotlight, while the occasional one, who lets theside down, will get all of the publicity. I suppose wewill just have to live with that.

So is the organisation going soft?I have a duty of care to ensure that our personnel arenot bullied, harassed or demeaned in any way. I alsohave a duty of care to ensure that our personnel areprepared, equipped and trained for operations. Thesematters are not mutually exclusive. Operations today,as I have already outlined, are more complex anddemanding and our soldiers must be prepared accord-ingly. There will be no diminution of standards on mywatch: training will be tough and robust; exerciseswill be conducted more frequently; and our goals willbe achieved while treating everyone with respect anddignity.

The Air Corps and Naval Service donot provide units for overseas, howhave they fared over the pastyear?They don’t provide units but they do provide individualpersonnel of the highest quality for peacekeeping andobserver missions. For example: the Naval Serviceoperates in a tough environment and I admire theirsense of duty and professionalism. They have mettheir patrol plan in full over the last year and greatcredit is due to their operational and support branch-es. While the Air Corps, having been starved ofresources for so many years, is now in a state of tran-sition that will take them to higher professional stan-dards than ever before. They have received a new Learjet, new Pilatus trainer aircraft, and a contract has justbeen signed for the delivery of Eurocopter light utilityhelicopters later this year and Bell Agusta helicoptersin 2006 and 2007. In fact, the Lear jet maintained a100% record in despatch rate during the demandingperiod of our EU Presidency and in so doing the AirCorps have set their own standards for the future.

Now that you mention the ‘EUPresidency’, how did it impinge onthe Defence Force?I have already touched on the ceremonial functionsprovided on May Day, performances that captured theimagination of so many people, both nationally andinternationally. However, our main security operationswere, of course, the ‘May Day’ and ‘Munster Summit’operations. The Defence Force deployed 2,500 person-nel on both occasions in support of the Gardaí andespecially the highly technical capability to deal withany terrorism threat in the chemical, biological, radio-logical or nuclear areas. I think, though, our biggestcontribution was the seminar we conducted on UN-EUrelationships. The UN and the EU are at a definingtime in regard to their relationships in the area ofpeace support operations, and I think that by bringingthe Heads of the respective Departments in the twoorganisations together, along with key players in thisarea, we advanced the process significantly. Our suc-cess in this was due in no small way to the ‘trackrecord’ of our peacekeepers in so many missionsdown the years, not least those who made the ultimatesacrifice in the cause of peace.

Operationstoday… are morecomplex anddemanding and oursoldiers must beprepared accord-ingly. There will beno diminution ofstandards on mywatch: training willbe tough androbust; exerciseswill be conductedmore frequently;and our goals willbe achieved whiletreating everyonewith respect anddignity.

Training with state-of-the-artequipment is one of the toppriorities for the Chief ofStaff.



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preparing for and returning from patrol missions thatcan last up to 15 days; until we witnessed the tendercare and compassion our troops have for the patientsat the Aids Hospice in Monrovia; and until the Ministerand I saw the open, friendly yet respectful way our per-sonnel interacted with our Commander-in-Chief.Associated with those, of course, would be the visit ofthe United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, toMcKee Barracks and the live video-link we arranged forhim where he could speak, from a field camp, to ourunit in UNMIL.

What are your thoughts and con-siderations, as you move into yoursecond year as Chief of Staff?My main objective, again, will be the further develop-ment of our operational capability and this impacts ondoctrine, equipment, organisation, personnel andtraining. In particular, training! My first thoughts arein terms of the continuation of the re-equipment pro-gram: the new helicopters that will start to come on

stream; the Javelin anti-armour system; new high-tech radios and night vision equipment; and so on.But really it is not just about arrival and acceptanceof equipment, it is about training: individual; collec-tive; maintenance; and field. We all know about thearrival in service of the ‘state-of-the-art’ MowagAPC that has already proved so successful inEritrea, Kosovo and Liberia, but do you know it takeseight weeks to train a Mowag crewman, two weeks totrain the dismountable element, and three furtherweeks to train a Mowag commander! There is nopoint in having all of this sophisticated equipmentunless we have a doctrine to govern its employmentand are trained in its use and maintenance. In regardto all of the new equipment we have received to date,and are continuing to receive, it will take a hugeeffort to ‘tidy up’, ‘catch up’ and ‘stay ahead’ during2005.

I will, of course, also be focussed on the progres-sion of the decentralisation of Defence Force’sHeadquarters to the Curragh. At present ourHeadquarters is split over five locations in Dublin,with some locations in a very sub-standard condition,making it extremely difficult to manage and co-ordi-nate all of the HQ’s sections. A new site has beenselected and we are anxious to expedite the move assoon as possible; relocation is nothing new for thesoldier.

One other project I will be hopeful of bringing to asuccessful conclusion this year is the provision, in theheart of our Capital City, of a suitable public memorialto our Defence Forces personnel who have died whileperforming their duty.

As we look forward then we must remember thatno matter what new high tech equipment we take on –the human spirit will always remain the key on opera-tions. Our personnel at all ranks are top quality, theenvy of other forces. I intend to build on this during2005 through the development of a centre for excel-lence in leadership at the Military College; this centrewill provide for the development of all of our leadersfrom section commander to brigade commander. Myaim going forward is to provide the best possibleworking environment and to educate, train and devel-op our people to the highest standards so that whencalled upon we will always respond with personnelthat are well-equipped, highly-trained and above allhighly-motivated.■

Top: Lt Gen Jim Sreenan is seenhere with President MaryMcAleese (Commander inChief) and Lt Col Jim Long (OC92 Inf Bn) during thePresidential Visit to UNMIL inDecember 2004.

Above:Lt Gen Sreenan escorted MrWillie O’Dea, TD (Minister forDefence) as he reviewed 92 InfBn prior to their departure toUNMIL.

Right:Lt Gen Sreenan welcomes KofiAnnan (UNSG) following hisarrival at Defence ForceHeadquarters.

Far right:The Chief of Staff discussesthe finer points of the Steyrrifle with members of theReserve Defence Force.



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NWhen once asked what my dream job would be, I replied, “A travel writer” – as the prospect of jet-ting off to far-flung destinations and writing aboutmy experiences seemed like the easiest and most

amazing job in the world (that was of course before Ijoined the Defence Forces). However, even the bestwriters are faced with times when no words seem wor-thy enough to describe a particular event or experience,a situation in which I recently found myself.

I have just returned from a twelve-day excursion tonorthern Vietnam, where I was a member of a 50-stronggroup who took up a challenge to trek through themountains of this little understood country in aid of theChristina Noble Children’s Foundation – an Irish-basedcharity that works with the poorest children in Vietnam.Each and every one of us had gone to Vietnam with dif-ferent expectations and returned home as firm friends,united in the hope that we would never forget what wehad experienced.

To participate in the 2004 Vietnam Challenge, eachtrekker had to raise a minimum of €4,500 to pay forflights, accommodation and a charitable gratuity, in mycase I managed to raise €5,165. The group trekked anaverage of 20kms a day in 90% humidity and 2,000ftabove-sea-level, however, thinking of the children wewould be helping, who had all experienced some formof abuse whether it be prostitution, drug-trafficking orexploitation, made each step easier. Later, while meet-ing these children, we had for a brief period the oppor-tunity to witness and share ‘life’ in its purest form.When a smile or a song is more welcome in a schoolthan a computer and when a child’s eyes light up at the

sight of a chocolate bar that, upon receipt, is immedi-ately broken up into as many pieces as possible andshared with friends.

“This has been life-changing”, “I have never felt sohumbled” and “I have learned what’s really important inlife”, are some of the many comments that were sharedby members of our group as we tried to sum up ourexperiences the night before we left.

Our journey had taken us from the mayhem ofHanoi, with its bustling markets and Chinese andFrench colonial architecture, to the town of Sapa in themountains of North Vietnam. From there we traveledthrough the wide expanses of paddy-fields, wherewomen worked all day in the blistering sunshine withbabies on their backs. While all along the roads we metmany of the villagers making the ‘daily’ six-hour returnjourney to town, weighed down with heavy baskets ofhomemade crafts to trade with both townspeople andtourists.

Through breathtaking scenery Tuan, our local guide,led us through a final river valley to a school where chil-dren from four local tribes welcomed us with a song.The children then listened intently as we returned thegesture and applauded the news that we had comefrom Ireland to learn about education in their countryand help raise money for poor children who didn’t haveschools. It never occurred to them that they might bethe poor children we were talking of, as their schoolsurvived on State support, contributions from aid agen-cies and gifts from groups like us. I had never seensuch contentment and joy among a group of childrenand when the time came to leave Sapa there was a pal-pable sadness among our group.

Our time in Sapa had taken us on an emotionalroller-coaster that left little time to absorb and reflecton all we had seen and heard. During the final andamazing leg of this spectacular journey, we visited themagical Halong Bay where there was a chance to dis-cuss all that we had witnessed. At the start of theChallenge, we had been advised that the success ofthe trip would depend on how individuals came togeth-er to work as a group. As I surveyed the people aroundme to consider if it was possible for 50 strangers toshare each other’s lives for just a few days and havesuch a positive impact, I knew the answer already. Theevidence was in front of me, as every day there wereitems shared and hugs given.

Through the efforts of all involved over €300,000 hadbeen raised for the Irish charity. Founded by a Dublinwoman, Christina Noble, the Children’s Foundationworks with the poorest of children and their families inVietnam and Mongolia. During our final night inVietnam we received a message from Christina, “Itonly takes one to make a difference, there are manyones and we have all made a difference.” The ‘ones’ shereferred to extend not only to those of us who had theprivilege of participating in this amazing journey, but toeveryone who helped in any way in getting us there. Notone of us undertook our fundraising drives alone and tofriends, family and all who helped and contributed wewill be eternally grateful. The Vietnam Challenge prom-ised memories to last a lifetime. Of this there can be nodoubt but my lasting hope from this experience is that Icontinue to appreciate that happiness can never bebought and that true joy is never found in the acquisi-tion of things but in the company of others.■

Sincere thanks to my wife Dorothy, to my children Darren, Jackand Ciara and to all my family and friends who made this possi-ble. I would also like to thank Capt Seán Ó Fáthárta (DF AsstPress Offr) for all his help, the Christina Noble Children’sFoundation and I will never forget it.

Pte Willie Connolly, RDF HQ,Kickham Barracks, participated inthe 2004 Vietnam Challenge inaid of the Christina NobleChildren’s Foundation and sent An Cosantóir this report…

Vietnam and BackAN UNFORGETABLE JOURNEY

Above and right:Pte Willie Connoly with someof the children the ChristineNobel Foundation workswith.

Below:Pte Willie Connolly is seenhere with some of his fellowtrekkers.


High on a hill, in an area called Gazimestan, alone monument towers over the open fields andhills. This medieval-style tower stands proudly,with a large pathway leading up to a small door

at the rear of the tower. From a distance the Towerseems like a fortress, with its main purpose beingto defend against any threat, while its positionresembles an observation post with unbeatableadvantages. The Tower was erected in 1953 in mem-ory of the people who died on June 28th 1389 duringa brutal and bloody battle. Withstanding the test oftime, it is sad to see that today this historical monu-ment needs all the help it can get to remain protect-ed from desecration.

Named Kosovo Ploje (the Field of theBlackbirds), the open plains that surround this mon-ument holds a rich history that dates back to the14th Century when War raged between the Turks ofthe Ottoman Empire and the Serbian Nation.

In 1356 the Turkish Empire had begun to grow,spreading its borders and colonising many coun-tries in Europe. Led by Sultan Murad I, the TurkishArmy began the invasion of Europe when it crossedthe Hellespont. Within five years Sultan Murad I hadconquered some of the most important towns inGreece.

Fear began to spread throughout Europe and theSerbian Monarch, King Lazarus, gathered an armyto defend against the Turkish invasion, with histori-cal evidence proving that Albanian noble men,among other nationalities, fought alongside theSerbians. After a decisive battle at Kosovo Plojethe Serbian Army was defeated with decimatinglosses and, although sporadic fighting continuedfor almost a century in 1453, Serbia’s last remain-

In 2004 Cpl Michelle Byrne (AnCosantóir journalist and 7 Inf Bn,RDF) met the Irish troops servingwith KFOR in Kosovo as part ofmedia visit to the contingent.While she was there Michelle gotthe opportunity to visit the monu-ment that was erected to com-memorate a defining battle inSerbia’s history, when they foughtalongside their Albanian neigh-bours against the Ottoman Empireand lost.

Kosovo PlojeWHERE IT ALL BEGAN…

Below:Mr Igor Pekenic (Serbiantgranslator)




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fered great losses in the many wars they haveparticipated in during the intervening centuries –with the constant retaliation creating a huge eth-nic divide.

Today, the monument at Kosovo Ploje remainsheavily guarded by the Czech and Slovak BattleGroups. Surrounded by modern day military vehi-cles and weapons, a mobile fortress surroundsthe stationary one in order to protect the monu-ment from further desecration and as a resultthere are no public visits allowed to the monu-ment.

Within the Tower a staircase spirals around itsinside walls, with only splinters of light shiningthrough the classic medieval defensive windows.The view from the top of the monument is breath-taking and the surrounding area is clearlydescribed on an inlaid moulded bronze map thatexplains the layout of the opposing armies duringthe battle at Kosovo Ploje.

The Serbian people feel a great sense of pridefor this monument and on the day of our visit ourSerbian translator, Mr Igor Pekenic, described hisemotions, “Nobody of my age has ever visited themonument and probably never will, due to thestrict military presence around the tower. AllSerbian children know the story of Kosovo Ploje,having been told the history of the site by theirparents and grandparents or have been taught itat school.”

Standing at the base of the tower, havinglooked over the surrounding plains, Igor went onto say, “Kosovo Ploje is a very important place; itcan be considered a holy place to us. It is my firsttime to be here and it is very important forSerbian people to show our respects to our coun-try and our people who died here. I am very proudto be in this place and ‘Thank you’ to the Irishsoldiers who have brought me here. I will tell myfriends and family all about this visit and withgreat pride I will tell my father I was here.”■

ing free city, Smederevo, fell to the Turks.The Serbian population were forced into sub-

jugation, serving their Turkish masters. However,a religious upheaval began when many of thedefeated Serbs joined the Orthodox Church inorder to maintain their autonomy. But when theOrthodox Church began to retaliate against theTurkish Empire many of the Serbs fled andsought refuge in neighbouring countries. Thisexodus paved the way for the Albanian moveonto the now vacant fertile lands and valleys leftbehind by the displaced Serbians. As a result ofthis history it is very difficult to find the start ofthe present day violence that is endured by thepopulation of present-day Kosovo. Although theSerbs and Albanians base their divide on their



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SLogistics is defined, very simply, as the movementand maintenance of forces. For the Defence Force itis a fundamental pillar of our training, operationsand overseas service. Because of the size of our

country and the relatively high number of militaryinstallations nationwide, there has always been aBarracks nearby from where Defence Force (DF) sol-diers could seek replenishment, be it operational ortraining. In the past, because of our countrywide dis-tribution, collective logistics training has been given alower priority than conventional and operational readi-ness training.

Throughout our 23 years of peacekeeping inLebanon the Irish battalion was billeted, fed, rotatedand maintained (in the main) by the United Nations(UN), with the serving battalion being logisticallydependant on the labyrinthine bureaucracy of the UN– a factor outside the control of the deployed unit orDFHQ. This situation for units serving overseas hasnow changed completely, to the point that the Irishpeacekeeping battalion serving in Liberia (UNMIL)and the company-plus infantry group in Kosovo(KFOR) are operating with 99% Irish-owned-and-maintained equipment ‘from billet to bullet’. The neteffect of this is seen through one of the DF’s key per-formance indicators: the operational readiness (andlogistical sustainment) of our two largest deploy-ments overseas that is correctly and completely theresponsibility of the unit commander (in the firstinstance) and DFHQ/DOD (operationally and strate-gically).

The provision of equipment and services that havea direct impact on unit readiness is now fully withinour control and although the UN does reimburse theState for this service, in the case of UNMIL, the UNalso continues to provide the large volume consum-ables of rations and fuel1. This outsourcing evolvedfrom the old UN-system as a result of the enormousdifficulties encountered in dealing with the vastincrease in peacekeepers needed during the post-Cold War 1990s. The UN system just could not cope,physically or financially, and over time the onus ofresponsibility for the provision of equipment and serv-ices was placed on the troop-contributing nations,with the UN paying rent for these national contribu-tions2. Parallel to this has been a broader develop-ment in outsourcing: the provision of UN-mandatedpeacekeeping missions by ‘coalitions of the willing’, apolitical decision with significant logisticimplications3. In these missions the principle of ‘costslie where they fall’ is the underlying logistics tenetand, unlike ‘Blue Beret’ missions, the cost of partici-pation in these missions is borne wholly and com-pletely by the State, with no reimbursement from anyinternational fund.

‘The common theme for all overseas missions isthe requirement for national standards ofaccountancy to be applied, together with a clearfocus on financial accountability and value formoney.’

(DCOS (Sp) Instr 03/04, Overseas LogisticsAccountancy and Operations)

So how do these strategic changes impact on asoldier serving in Kosovo or Liberia today? In effectvery little, as the peacekeeping mission is not decidedprincipally by logistic or financial factors. However,there is an impact on Irish troops operating in a multi-national environment, using Irish equipment that theyhave trained with and operated in a home environ-ment, and affects the overseas unit commander themost – as tactical decisions now also have cost impli-cations. A result of this situation has been the devel-opment of a national support element (NSE) who nowtravel with all troop contributing missions that Irelandparticipates in, taking charge of the logistical andfinancial administration of overseas units.

The function of the NSE, a relatively small elementusually consisting of four to six personnel, is to pro-vide finance & contingent logistic procurement and re-supply in the mission area on behalf of DCOS (Sp). Inpractice, the NSE cell operates in tandem with theorganic unit logistics staff who identify logistic needs

The Devil is in the Detail! A state-ment that is fully realised by logis-tics experts throughout the world.In his report to An Cosantóir on‘Overseas Logistics in the IrishDefence Force’, Capt Gavin Young(Overseas Logs, D COS Sp) explainsthe intricacies involved in the over-seas deployment of Irish troops withUN-, EU- and NATO-led forces.

Overseas Logistics

in 2005



One of the keyplayers in the pro-vision of this time-ly support is theNational StoresReception Centre(NSRC). Based inthe DFTC, the NSRCwas set up in 2001and provides anessential service toDF units servingoverseas, co-ordi-nating the move-ment and account-ancy of all storesand equipmentfrom the DF to andfrom air- and sea-ports for dispatchoverseas andreturn to basetechnical stores.

and/or shortfalls. All requirements are clarified andpassed onto the NSE, who procure the necessarygoods or services locally or arrange for its shipmentfrom Ireland (this is particularly the case with militarystores). The net effect of this system allows the com-mander ‘on the ground’ to avail of logistic support in aquicker timeframe, for such services that are avail-able locally4. Although unit commanders do not con-trol a budget to aid the smooth running of their unit,there is a local allocation of funds from existing budg-ets devolved to the DF that are managed by variousCorps/Directorates. Thus the NSE is spending pre-approved monies on behalf of these subhead man-agers. This system, which is by no means perfect,does result in Irish troops being provided with moreflexible and timely logistical support.

One of the key players in the provision of this time-ly support is the National Stores Reception Centre(NSRC). Based in the DFTC, the NSRC was set up in2001 and provides an essential service to DF unitsserving overseas, co-ordinating the movement andaccountancy of all stores and equipment from the DFto and from air- and sea-ports for dispatch overseasand return to base technical stores.

On first examination the NSRC’s task seems asimple one. However, with the increased variety ofmissions the DF is involved with, all with multiplerotations annually combined with the volume of storesand frequencies of supply, the necessity for a profes-sional and organic service is vital5. The co-ordinationof this internal function that also complies with inter-national commercial standards is very important tothe DF, particularly in the area of moving high-value,high-security items.

So how do these changes impact on the plannerswithin the Defence Forces? In short a great deal. Atan operational and strategic level: If you need it youbring it! If you don’t bring it, you rent it or buy it local-ly! Therefore, in the planning, deployment, sustain-ment and recovery phases of all overseas deploy-ments there are logistical and budgetary implica-tions, from a unit’s establishment to its personnel,equipment, mission and roles. It is not just simply amatter of waving the troops goodbye at the airportand waiting for their return in six months. Everythinga unit needs, from paper, washing powder or vehiclemaintenance to the operational essentials of APCsor interpreters in the mission area, must be plannedand budgeted for. Also, if the DF wishes to avail of

consumables or services from another contributingnation a pre-negotiated international agreement isrequired and with our relatively small-scale involve-ment in some missions this is particularly significantfor the provision of specialist services e.g. medicalsupport.

The modernisation of the DF has provided Irishpeacekeepers with modern, practical and inter-opera-ble equipment that is ‘vitally important to supporting[our] contingents overseas’6. This equipment isincreasingly technical and 21st Century soldiers mustbe multi-skilled to ensure that they are used to theirfullest capabilities.

A high-tech, professional army requires high main-tenance, bringing its own inherent training and person-nel issues. As we in the DF progress to a mechanisedapproach to peacekeeping operations, high among ourpriorities is the need for highly skilled and technicalsoldiers who can travel with overseas units and keepthese units at acceptable levels of mission-readiness.In most operational theatres outsourcing of theseskills is not an option.

In Ryan v The Minister for Defence (1989) theSupreme Court concluded that a soldier’s superiorsowed a duty of care to him/her. The Court went on todefine that duty as being ‘a duty to take such care forthe safety of the soldier as was reasonable in all thecircumstances of their relationship and the activity inwhich they were engaged.’ This case specifically dealtwith overseas service, therefore, alongside theincreased financial and logistic responsibility for over-seas missions, the DF has a continuing legal responsi-bility to take reasonable precautions to ensure thesafety of its officers, NCOs and men. Today the socie-tal level of expectation of our ‘first world’ country isrising constantly in all facets of life.

The DF’s deployment to Liberia (UNMIL) inNovember/December 2003 was an indicator of our cor-porate ability to react within stated international time-frames7. For our organisation this was a large opera-tional and logistical deployment of over-500 troops(Special Operations Task Group (SOTG), 90 Inf Bn andLogs unit) and 1,900 tonnes of equipment by air andsea. All within 85 days of the Irish Government’s deci-sion to deploy a peacekeeping/enforcement contingentto a very remote area of West Africa that was both aclimatically and medically hostile region! During thistimeframe the rudiments of a battalion-size ‘base ofoperations’ was up and running and the troops of



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SSOTG and 90 Inf Bn were in a position to wholly self-sustain for up to 60 days (less fuel).

The planning and initial deployment of Irish troopsto UNMIL was not without its headaches, but it didtake place from within existing budgets and the vastmajority of the necessary equipment was on the DF’sinventory8. This should be compared to the deploymentof Irish peacekeeping troops to the Congo (ONUC) in1960, when over-1,900 troops were deployed ‘in theatre’in less than 30 days of a UN Security CouncilResolution. However, in this particular instance theIrish troops were completely dependent on UNresources for all supplies.

Within the European Defence Community ‘coali-tions of the willing’ are being brought to a higher ‘stateof readiness’, as the EU Rapid Reaction Force contin-ues to evolve, and should a request for a future Irishparticipation in a peacekeeping/enforcement missionpass all phases of Ireland’s ‘triple lock’ system,deployment should occur in a very short timeframe.This participation will have associated costs thoughand all future deployments of UN-, EU-, or NATO-ledforces, for Petersberg Tasks, point to a timely deploy-ment to trouble spots9. These locations commonlyhave little or no essential services available and self-reliance is imperative. Host nation support i.e. fromthe country that the force is operating in, is usuallyminimal, therefore the need for organic technical,financial, medical and administrative support is a rea-sonable planning assumption.

‘Logs & Admin to Follow’, was the catch phrase ofold. It must now be in the vanguard! The DF’s deploy-ment to Liberia has been a springboard to greater pre-paredness at all levels. Moreover, it has focussed ourorganisation to the need for more planning and stock-piling for any deployment in a shorter timeframe10.

‘The devil is in the detail.’■

References1. In UN parlance this is a self-sustaining wet lease.2. In keeping with modern management practises the UN

outsourced, placing more responsibility on the suppliers(i.e. the nations), decreasing it’s own logistic footprint andpaying for the national contributions and support.Consequently, the service (peacekeeping) is provided at areduced administrative and structural burden on the UN.

3. Missions such as NATO-led SFOR in Bosnia, Australianled INTERFET in East Timor, UK (initially) now NATO leadISAF in Afghanistan, EU-led Operation ARTEMIS in DRCand EU Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia are all examples.

4. The goods or services must meet certain specificationsand are procured according to Government TenderingProcedures (The Green Book).

5. The NSRC also fulfil exacting standards in the DefenceForces ability to deploy air cargo by commercial means.This has increased importance in the post-September 11thworld of air transport.

6. ‘The Defence Forces and Peacekeeping Operations’, JointPaper presented to the Dáil Committee on Foreign Affairsby the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department ofDefence and the Defence Forces, 21 Oct 2003.

7. ‘The UN should define “rapid and effective deploymentcapabilities” as the ability, from an operational perspec-tive to fully deploy traditional peacekeeping operationswithin 30 days after the adoption of a Security Council res-olution, and within 90 days on the case of complex peace-keeping operations.’ Report on the Panel on UN PeaceOperations (The Brahimi Report), A/55/305 – S/2000/809, 21Aug 2000. See www.un.org/peace/reports/peace_opera-tions .

8. In Liberia local goods and services are limited and all non-organic technical support and the majority of consum-ables to keep this unit operating are supplied from Ireland.

9. Those tasks defined initially by the WEU MinisterialCouncil on June 17th 1992 and later adopted by the EUunder the Amsterdam Treaty. They are (i) humanitarian andrescue tasks, (ii) peacekeeping and (iii) tasks of combatforces in crisis management, including peacemaking.

10.The EU Military Rapid Response Concept Headline Goalfor 2010 includes the ambition that readiness forces bebuilt on assets and capabilities held at a readiness of 5-10days.



Pte Michael McCormack (retd) is theHouse Warden of Beechwood House,ONET’s Home for retired homelessDefence Force’s personnel, that islocated in Letterkenny Town, Co Donegal. Cpl Paul Hevey, Editor ofAn Cosantóir, visited the Home recentlywith Mr Joe Lynch, CEO of ONET, andspoke with Michael about the projecthe had initiated and brought to fulfillment on behalf of ONET.

CARING FOROUR OWN

Michael McCormack joined the Defence Forces in1970 and completed his basic training in CustumeBarracks, Athlone, before being transferred toFinner Camp, Co Donegal, and then onwards to

Rockhill Camp, Letterkenny, where he spent the majori-ty of his 27-year long career. Throughout his militarycareer Michael was involved in many research projects,including the Gleeson Commission and the preparato-ry work for setting up the Other Ranks Association,that went on to become PDFORRA. However, hisgreatest involvement with Defence Force-associatedgroups has been with the Organisation for Ex-Servicemen and women(ONET), where, upon retire-ment, he helped set up the Letterkenny Branch ofONET. In fact it was Michael’s enthusiasm for this ven-ture that saw ONET’s 50th Anniversary being success-fully celebrated alongside the Organisation’s AnnualConvention in Letterkenny in 2000.

It was at this convention that the LetterkennyBranch announced a five-year plan to set up a ‘Home’in Co Donegal for retired Defence Force’s personnel,and it was here that Michael’s ‘on the ground’ experi-ence showed through. Heavily involved in voluntarycommunity welfare and youth projects, Michael hadworked extensively with community developmentgroups to secure premises relevant to their budgets.This experience was complimented by his successfulcompletion of a Certificate Course in CommunityStudies with the Dept of Education and enabled him tofind an ideal location for the future Home for ex-ser-vicemen, a Home that was immediately approved bythe Letterkenny Branch Committee of ONET.

At the same time a number of retired DefenceForce’s personnel were living in Letterkenny Town, inconditions it must be said were not too favourable. Thishousing problem, coupled with other personal adversi-ties, validated the absolute necessity to have a Homeset up as soon as possible. After successfully applyingto Donegal County Council for capital assistance inexcess of €369,000 to buy and renovate the house, theONET Committee raised a further €18,000 from the localONET branches ANSAC, PDFORRA, Letterkenny Town

Council and the Town’s residents to offset the purchaseof furniture and fittings – freeing up other ONET funds(€40,000) to complete the project (under Section 6 of the1988 Housing Act the resident Co Council can supply90% of the funds needed to purchase and renovate aproperty for charitable housing needs).

The house was purchased from Mrs BriginneMcLoughlin, who waited four years to ensure that herhouse was sold only to ONET so that it could be con-verted to the residence it is today. Her patience wasrewarded on April 25th 2004 when the paperwork final-ly succeeded in being passed, the renovations com-pleted and the Home officially opened and renamed‘Beechwood House’.

Beechwood House is divided into 19 separaterooms/spaces (including storage areas) and is brokendown into:

• 6 residents rooms• 1 guest room/emergency accommodation• 2 bathrooms (including a disabled bathroom)• 1 kitchen• 1 dining room• 1 sitting room• 1 conservatory• 1 office• 1 staff toilet• 2 storerooms• 1 food preparation area/laundry drying area• 1 hot press

There were three staff employed by the Home, theHouse Warden (Michael); John Doherty, a retiredDefence Force’s Chef who works as a full-time chef;and Donna Mooney who works as part-timecook/cleaner, sadly due to a funding shortfall, Donnahas recently been let go. The residents are charged€1000-a-week each for their accommodation and thisincludes electricity, gas, heating, Sky Digital, dailypapers and a ‘rations’ budget amounting to €6.50-a-day which allows for an excellent diet to be main-tained with three meals-a-day. The kitchen is alwaysopen and every guest who enters the Home is immedi-ately offered a cup of tea or coffee.

Michael McCormack(Beechwood HouseWarden).

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Beechwood House is located in a very settledarea of Letterkenny Town and to ensure that therewas no misrepresentation of ONET’s strategy tosecure accommodation for Defence Force’s ex-ser-vicemen a meeting was held with the local ResidentsAssociation. Although there was an initial apprehen-sion to the project, ONET has proved to all andsundry that not only was integration possible but thebenefits of having the Home in their area hasenhanced the local community spirit tremendously.

Michael’s thoughts on the project are, “This is their(the residents) Home. This is where they live. If theresidents don’t have respect for Beechwood House,then the community couldn’t possibly have respect forthe residents. As a result everything has worked outperfectly. The positive ‘public relations’ aspect to thisproject for the Defence Force has been enormous.”

ONET are constantly on the lookout for potentialresidents for the housing project, because one neverknows when bad luck could turn a bad situation intoa disaster. The residents range in age from 40 to 60-plus, however age isn’t relevant to ONET once theapplicants have a minimum of one year’s servicewith the PDF, RDF, Civil Defence or Red Cross. “Theresidents settle into the Home quite well, consider-ing the level of institutionalism they have been sub-ject to during their long careers, which could be any-thing up to 40 years service. It is great to see thembegin to integrate into society again,” explainedMichael. “Some of the residents that have beenthrough the Home in Dublin have already attainedfull employment, gone on to further education andhave managed to move on with their lives in a verypositive manner and this is what we are trying to doin the north-west.”

Funding is always a problem for charitable groupsand ONET is no different. To ensure that the resi-dents are fully taken care of a supplement is neededto offset the day-to-day running costs of BeechwoodHouse, e.g. wages, upkeep of the building, etc. As aresult ONET has applied for a grant through DonegalCounty Council (under Section 10 of the 1988Housing Act, 10% of the grant is supplied by thelocal Authority and the remainder supplied by theDept of Environment). “If this grant is not approvedthe Home will begin to make a loss and decisionswill have to be made regarding the residents’ future.With nobody to look after them it would be inherenton the State to step in. However, over the past 12months the problems with the home have been accu-mulating as Donegal County Council have so farrefused to grant us any funding at all,” explained MrJoe Lynch, CEO of ONET.

ONET receives approximately €15,000 in yearlysubscriptions from 865 Defence Force members of allranks, from the Chief of Staff down, with a further€45,000 being donated from retired personnel’s pen-sions (all ranks). Although the Organisation has onlyreceived €25,000 in grants (in 2002) from the Dept forDefence during its 54 year existence it is hoped thatmilitary land and/or property may be granted in thefuture to facilitate the building of more ONET homessimilar to the one in Letterkenny.

ONET is so confident of the high standard of theirhostelry that, for a small fee, they are willing to let outthe Home’s spare room to anyone who would like totake a short break in Co Donegal, if it is available. Soif you would like a relaxing weekend away, all of yourmeals cooked and some friendly talk of ‘old times’with some retired Defence Force’s personnel, thenLetterkenny Town, Co Donegal, is the place to stay!*■

* Michael McCormack can be contacted at 074 917 7219

Michael’s thoughtson the project are,“This is their (theresidents) Home.This is where theylive. If the resi-dents don’t haverespect forBeechwood House,then the communi-ty couldn’t possiblyhave respect forthe residents. As aresult everythinghas worked outperfectly. The posi-tive ‘public rela-tions’ aspect tothis project for theDefence Force hasbeen enormous.”

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Amember of the Irish Defence Force for 19 years,in addition to his employment in the BarrackAccountant Stores, Pte Brian Coniry has theunenviable task of being Mess President for the

Privates Mess, Collins Barracks. Not only must hetread the fine line between following orders fromhis superiors as a Private, he must also give theorders and take responsibility for them as MessPresident of the largest mess in Collins Barracks.Pte Coniry took on the role of Mess President inSeptember 2004, following a conversation with theprevious Barrack Commanding Officer, Lt Col JimLong, who outlined his plans to upgrade thePrivates Mess. Architectural plans had alreadybeen drawn up for the refurbishment of the oldNCOs Mess that had become vacant following theconstruction of the new Dining Complex/NCOsMess two years ago. However, the plan neededsomeone with enough drive to take on the projectand complete it within the given time-scale and hehad picked Pte Coniry.

Pte Coniry jumped at the opportunity and wasappointed Mess President. In the short six monthshe has been in situ Pte Coniry has managed tocomplete the refurbishment of the Mess on time,within budget and tastefully decorated the complexto a standard matching any Five Star Hotel in theCity. However, the refurbishment project could nothave completed without the invaluable help of BrigGen Pat Nash (GOC 1 S Bde), Comdt DaveMcGonnell (Architect), the Barrack ServicesSection in DFHQ, the Area Engineer Lt Judy Barry-Murphy, the Barrack Accountant Staff, MessCommittee, Civilian Contractors, and many otherswho hopefully will not be offended by having theirnames ommited.

At present there are four separate areas withinthe Mess. The Dry Canteen, with its airy and com-fortable seating area. The TV/R&R lounge, with its44 inch rear-projection screen and leather-boundarmchairs, which can be used anytime during theday. The spacious Reception Area/Snug, with itspacked trophy cabinets from All Army Shooting andSports Competitions, gives a quiet and pleasantarea to sit and chat or play a game of cards. Whilethe fully stocked Bar can be used at night for arelaxing drink without having to join the maddingcrowd in the City.

Pte Coniry has certainly made an impact on thePrivates Mess and was at pains to explain that theMess is a facility that is available and should beused to everyone's benefit. So what future planshas the Mess President got up his sleeve? Well, fora start he hopes to expand the Mess onto the sec-ond floor and put in a snooker room, a pool roomand an internet cafe. There is also the remnant of aprevious lounge that he would like to have refur-bished for functions that would not interfere withthe socialising that occurs in the main Mess area.

The future is certainly looking bright for PteConiry and all of the Privates serving in CollinsBarracks. But for those serving in Liberia at themoment, 4 Inf Bn is the lead-battalion serving withUNMIL alongside many private soldiers from thenumerous units garrisoned in Collins Barracks, thenew Privates Mess will be a great place to get some‘R& R’ when they get home.■

Rest andRelaxationin Collins’ Bks new Privates’ Mess

As part of his visit to CollinsBarracks, Cork City, theMinister for Defence, Mr WillieO'Dea TD, officially opened thenew Privates Mess. Pte BrianConiry, Mess President, was onhand to meet Minister O'Deaand welcome him and hisguests to the new facility that will cater for the 'R&R'needs of Privates who are permanently garrisoned inCollins Barracks.

Pte Brian Coniry (MessPresident) is seen herewith Mr Willie O’Dea, TD(Minister for Defence) atthe official opening.



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The awards are as follows:

Main Category AwardFirst Prize €600Second Prize €300

Special Category AwardFirst Prize €200

This year’s nominations are listed below and theAward Winners will be invited a lunch hosted by LtGen Jim Sreenan (Chief of Staff), along with theAdjudicators and Award Trustees, in April 2005where they will be presented with their Prizes.Best of luck to all of the nominees,

Cpl Paul Hevey, Editor, An Cosantóir

The nominations for the 2004 Capt SeamusKelly Literary Awards were recently selectedand delivered to the Awards’ Adjudicators forperusal and selection. Capt Kelly (then Sgt

Kelly) was An Cosantóir’s first Editor, when themagazine initially began production in December1940. Retiring from the Defence Force soon afterthe ‘Emergency’ years ended, Capt Kelly went onto work with The Irish Times as the columnist of‘An Irishman’s Diary’ for over-20 years. In 1984 aTrust Fund and Annual Literary Award Schemewas set up in memory of Capt Kelly to encouragepeople of all levels, with an aptitude to ‘pen a fewwords’, to compose an article for publishing in An Cosantóir.

Main Category AwardFirst & Second to be selected1. Through the Eye of a Needle Frank Reade (Feb 2004)2. A Day to Remember Capt Gerard O’Brien (May 2004)3. Air Mobile Deployment Comdt Willie O’Dwyer (June 2004)4. The Spitfire and the Shamrock Maurice Byrne (Jul/Aug 2004)5. TAMS and TSOPs Comdt Adrian Ó Murchú (Jul/Aug 2004)6. In Remembrance Lt Col George Kerton (Sept 2004)7. A Law Less Ordinary Sgt Christopher Smith (Sept 2004)8. Turning the Tide CQMS Gerry White (Nov 2004)9. Terrorism: An Unfolding History Dr John Horgan (Nov 2004)10. Operation Iron Fist Comdt Seán Fox (Dec/Jan 2004/05)

Special Category Award1. Chance Encounters Col Mick O’Shea (Feb 2004)2. Introducing the Alps Sgt Jim O’Neill (Sept 2004)3. Notching Up The Scores Sgt Robbie Walsh (Dec/Jan 2004/05)

Adjudicators for the 2004 Capt Seamus Kelly Annual Literary AwardsLt Gen James Sreenan Chief of StaffLt Col Dan Murphy OiC PR SectionCapt Fergal Costello Manager An CosantóirCpl Paul Hevey Editor An CosantóirMr Jack McConnell Press Officer Dept for Defence

Nominations for the 2004 CAPT SEAMUS KELLY

Annual Literary Awards

Lt Gen Jim Sreenan (Chief ofStaff) is seen with Ms MaureenBrowne (Awards Trustee),Comdt Brendan O’Shea andCQMS Gerry White (2003 MainCategory Award winners) andSgt Vincent Carroll (retd) (2003Special Category Awardwinner).


conducted his own defense.A large number of the Lord Mayor's family and

friends attended the Court Martial, including LadyMayoress Mary MacSwiney, the Lord Mayor's sister,Father Dominic, Mr L O'Callaghan (Chairman of CorkCounty Council) and Mr G MacCarthy (the Town Clerk).All entering the Court had their name entered in abook and, as a security precaution, were also subject-ed to a search.

When asked if he would be represented by aCounsel MacSwiney replied…

'I would like to say a word about your proceedingshere. The position is that I am Lord Mayor of Corkand Chief Magistrate of this city, and I declare thiscourt illegal, and those who take part in it are liableto arrest under the laws of the Irish Republic.'


CQMS Gerry White (4 Inf Bn) andComdt Brendan O’Shea (92 Inf Bn)complete their article on Cork’sForgotten Hero, Terence MacSwiney,with a rare insight into his legalrepresentations during the ‘CourtMartial’ held by the British Army’s6th Infantry Division in VictoriaBarracks, Cork City, into ‘seditious’documents that were attributed tothe former-Lord Mayor of Cork.

Following his arrest at City Hall MacSwiney wasthrown into the back of a British Army lorry andtaken to the Military Detention Barracks (nowCork Prison) where he was divested of all posses-

sions, with the exception of his Lord Mayor's Chain ofOffice that he had steadfastly refused to part with.The following day the prisoners were transferred toCork Gaol, where MacSwiney discovered that on theday prior to his arrest a group of Republican prisonershad commenced a hunger strike. He immediatelydecided to adopt the same course of action in order todraw attention to the injustice of his detention andthree days later, in what can only be described as anextraordinary failure on the part of British militaryintelligence, all of the Volunteer officers arrested,with the exception of Terence MacSwiney, werereleased.

On August 16th 1920 Terence MacSwiney wastaken back to Victoria Barracks in order to face aCourt Martial consisting of the following Board ofBritish Army officers: Colonel James, SouthStaffordshire Regiment (President); Major Percival,Essex Regiment (Member); and Captain Reeves,Hampshire Regiment (Member). The followingcharges were read out against him:• Without lawful authority or excuse being in posses-

sion of a Cypher, on August 12, which Cypher wasthe numerical Cypher issued to the R.I.C.

• Having this Cypher under his control.• Being in possession of documents, the publication

of which would be likely to cause disaffection to hisMajesty. This document was the resolution (anamended one), passed by the Corporation acknowl-edging the authority of, and pledging allegiance to,Dáil Éireann.

• Copy of the speech the Lord Mayor made whenelected as successor to Lord Mayor TomasMacCurtain.

The prosecuting officer was a Captain Grover,while MacSwiney (who was still on hunger strike)

TERENCEMacSWINEY

THE FORGOTTEN HERO – PART 2

Captain Grover then outlined the case for the pros-ecution, whereupon the Lord Mayor again rose fromhis seat and replied…

‘I believe I will be able to hold on my feet until afterthe close of these proceedings, and then it is imma-terial. These proceedings, as I have said, are quiteillegal. Anything I have to say is not in defence, andit is in the written statement, parts of which aremade the subjects of charges here in this illegalcourt. You have got to realise, and will have torealise it before very long, that the Irish Republic isreally existing. I want to remind you of the fact thatthe gravest offence that can be committed by anyindividual is an offence against the Head of State.The offence is only relatively less great when com-mitted against the head of a city, and the illegality isvery much more grave when in addition to seizingthat person, his building and private room are vio-lated and his papers taken. I wish to reverse theposition and for the moment put you, gentlemen, inthe dock. One of the documents seized is a resolu-tion relating to our allegiance to the Government ofthe Republic. There was quite a similar documentthere, too. It was a resolution drawing attention tothe verdict and inquest on my predecessor, inwhich a jury found a unanimous verdict that theBritish Government and its Police were guilty of hismurder. And now it must be obvious to you that ifthat were an invention, it would be so grave a mat-ter that it would be the chief charge here today,even in this illegal court.’

Terence MacSwiney Muriel, his wife and daughterMáire.



‘But that document is put aside, and I am grati-fied to be here today, notwithstanding all its incon-veniences and other annoyances, to have thatbrought out, because this action of putting thatdocument aside is an admission, an assent to a pleaof guilty on behalf of those who committed themurder. That being the position, you must knowthat holding the office I do is absolutely grave forme, in view of the way my predecessor was sent tohis death. I cannot say but that the same will hap-pen to myself, at any moment. We always regardsoldiers as other than policemen, and though mis-guided in coming to this country, as still men ofhonour. I know where the code was, but did notknow who separated it from other documents, butit must have been done to make two chargesagainst two individuals. No one is responsible butme. I know where that paper was and where it wassworn to be. My respect for your army, little thoughit was, owing to happenings in this country of late,has now disappeared. It is a document that ought tobe only in my possession. No one else could have itwithout my consent, without committing anoffence. Anyone who used such cypher to transmitmessages about the Irish people is guilty of a crimeagainst the Irish Republic.’

‘If I were a private citizen I would not consent toaddress the court, but by virtue of my position Iwant to point out and make it clear to the court thatacting on directions from higher quarters could notabsolve them of the consequences of the actions oftheir court. My entire answer to this court or anycourt, is the document, the original of which youhave seized. But I would draw your attention to thefact there were seized among my papers a copy of aletter I addressed to His Holiness the Pope on theoccasion of the Beatification of Oliver Plunkett. HisHoliness has read that letter by now, and it will beof interest to him to learn that is a seditious docu-ment when found in my possession.'

The Prosecutor then interrupted, 'If you desire,that letter will be returned to you. There is no chargewhatever in connection with it, and it will bereturned.'MacSwiney answered,

‘It is too late to make the correction. Another let-ter taken was the one I received from the Presidentof the Municipal Council, Paris, asking for infor-mation relative to the port. I supplied that informa-tion and kept a copy of my reply. It will be of inter-est to the French Government to know that is anoffence for the President of the Municipal Councilof Paris to address letters to me, and when foundin my pockets they were seditious documents.Another matter I wish to refer to is the numbers ofvisiting cards found. These were cards of distin-guished foreign journalists from America, France,and other parts of Europe; when linked with myname they are taken as evidence of seditious con-spiracy.'

MacSwiney also referred to the fact that the incrimi-nating documents had actually been discovered in ashed near City Hall saying that documents found inone place should not have been stated to have beenin another place for the purpose of implicating otherpeople. He told the court,

'I am the one person responsible.'

But stated that in his opinion both the British armyofficer and private soldier who gave sworn evidenceto the court regarding these documents had commit-ted perjury. He declared,

'I must frankly say, that I am sorry for it, becauseas a soldier of the Irish Republic I like to respectsoldiers of every kind.’

The Lord Mayor concluded by saying,

'This is my position, I ask for no mercy.'

The members of the court then retired and after amere fifteen minutes returned to announce their ver-dict. Terence MacSwiney was found ‘Not Guilty’ onthe first charge but ‘Guilty’ on the second, third andfourth. After the verdict was announced MacSwineyaddressed the court one more time.

'I wish to state that I will put a limit to any term ofimprisonment you may impose, because of theaction I will take. I have taken no food sinceThursday, therefore I will be free in a month.'

He was then sentenced to two years imprisonmentand just after 3am the following morning he wastaken on board a British naval ship that sailedimmediately for Pembroke Dock in South Wales.On landing he was transferred to London andincarcerated in Brixton Prison, becoming PrisonerNumber 6749.

Meanwhile, back in Cork, the Volunteers were out-raged at the course events were now taking and onthe nineteenth day of MacSwiney's hunger strike ameeting of Cork Brigade’s HQ Staff, under SeánO’Hegarty, decided that an attempt would be made tocapture Major General Strickland (OC of the BritishArmy’s 6th Infantry Division in Victoria Barracks).Strickland would then be held hostage in order tosecure MacSwiney's release. However this operation,that was carried out on September 24th, ended in fail-ure due to a break down in communications, leavingMacSwiney to continue a hunger strike that was nowattracting worldwide interest and sympathy for theRepublican Cause. Throughout this ordeal

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Centre: Painting by BillYounghusband, reproduced bykind permission of the MessPresident, NCOs’ Mess,Collins’ Bks, Cork.

Above : MacSwiney’s remainsare brought to Cork, surrounded by Auxiliaries.

Right: A huge crowd greetedMacSwiney’s coffin as the tugMary Tavy came alongsideCustoms House Quay in Cork.



And so it went on until finally, on the morning ofOctober 25th 1920, after seventy-four days withoutfood, Terence MacSwiney died in prison, havinguttered these final words…

‘I want you to bear witness to the fact that I died asa soldier of the Republic, God save Ireland.’

He was forty-one years of age.The remains of Terence MacSwiney were brought

to St George’s Catherdral in Southwark where morethan 30,000 people filed past the tricolour-draped cof-fin to pay their respects. His family wished to havehis coffin brought to Dublin and taken to Cork bytrain, but the British authorities ordered it put onboard the steamer The Rathmore and taken directly toCobh, accompanied by a military escort, where itdocked at 1.45pm on Friday October 29th 1920.MacSwiney’s remains were then transferred to a tug,the Mary Tavy, that finally came alongside CustomsHouse Quay at 4.15pm.

At 9.30pm Volunteers from the Cork No 1 Brigadeescorted the body of their Commanding Officer to

MacSwiney’s thoughts were often with those stillengaged in the ‘fight for freedom’ and in a letter toSeán O’Hegarty on September 24th he wrote,

Seán,A last line in case I don’t return – I want to bid youGod speed for the future, and it sends me back onthe past. Do you remember the first drill in theDún under Goodwin when we took the floor eight-strong. I was in the first square and I think youwere. We had many vicissitudes together since andmuch good work for the Republic. How happy it isto recall the wonderful progress. I pray, Seán, thatyou may be spared long to carry on the good work– to come safely through the Battle and live in thehour of victory. I am very weary and must stop.Goodbye Seán. God Bless you and give you longlife under the free Republic.Your old comrade,Terry

Writing to Cathal Brugha on September 30th he said,

‘Whatever I suffer here is more than repaid for bythe fruit already reaped and if I die I know the fruitwill exceed the cost a thousand-fold. The thoughtmakes me happy and I thank God for it. Ah, Cathal,the pain of Easter is properly dead at last.’

City Hall in order to ‘Lie in State’ and the following daythousands of people lined the city streets as the funer-al cortege made its way to the North Cathedral.

Finally, on Sunday October 31st 1920, after RequiemMass celebrated by Bishop Coholan of Cork, four otherIrish bishops and two Arch-Bishops from Australia,the body of the Lord Mayor of Cork and OfficerCommanding Cork No 1 Brigade Irish Volunteers wasescorted through the streets of Cork one more time, asthe cortege made it's way to Saint Finbarr's Cemetery– led by the Volunteer Pipe-Band and escorted byVolunteers from Cork. Once again the entire route waslined with large crowds of grieving citizens and at hisgraveside Volunteers rendered full military honours asMacSwiney was laid to rest alongside his friend andcomrade, Tomas MacCurtain.

Terence MacSwiney was without doubt one of Cork’sgreatest patriots and a servant of its people. A deeplyreligious man, he was also a committed Republican whohad a deep love of the Irish language; a dedicated publicrepresentative; and a soldier who was willing to laydown his life for Ireland’s freedom. It is indeed fittingthat in 2004 Stella Cherry (Curator of Cork PublicMuseum) and her staff mounted an exhibition to com-memorate his life and achievement and that a quay out-side the City Hall was renamed in his honour. No longeris Terence MacSwiney Cork’s forgotten hero.■



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Want more fromyour militry career?Take the first step!

S E L E C T I O N C O U R S E M I K E O N EJune 19th to July 22nd 2005 – apply today!

Want more fromyour militry career?Take the first step!

S E L E C T I O N C O U R S E M I K E O N EJune 19th to July 22nd 2005 – apply today!



Mayor Alderman Sean Martin and Chamber ofCommerce, and the necessary funding from theDefence Force and Dept for Defence, the Curator’slong held vision of having a new and much larger mil-itary museum and reference library was finallyrealised on a bitterly-cold spring afternoon in 2005.

Mr Willie O'Dea TD, Minister for Defence, accom-panied by Lt Gen Jim Sreenan, Defence Force’sChief of Staff, and Brig Gen Pat Nash, GOC 1 S Bde,officially opened the new Collins Barracks Museumand Reference Library. One of many military muse-ums located in Defence Force’s Barracks throughoutIreland, Collins Barracks Museum and ReferenceLibrary is the only one that is completely accessibleto the general public. Located on the site of the origi-nal Guardroom, one of the oldest and continuouslyoccupied buildings in Cork, the Museum can beaccessed through the newly-refurbished entrancegate on the Old Youghal Road.

The Museum's former location will continue to beused as an Annex to the main museum and library,regularly displaying private collections that wouldnot normally be seen by the general public. On thishistoric day the Annex displayed the uniform collec-tion of Mr Jack Bourke’s, former Mayor of Limerick,and the collection of military memorabilia belongingto Mr Paddy Basset, which is amongst the finest inthe country. The contents of the displays within thenew Museum and Reference Library will undoubtedlydraw visitors from ‘far-and-wide’. In 1993, theMuseum was presented with ‘Michael CollinsMemorabilia’ by Mr Michael Collins, grandnephew toGeneral Michael Collins, and the artefacts includeGen Collins desk, writings, uniform and weapon.

Today Sgt Paddy Cremin (retd) continues to beemployed as the Museum’s full-time AssistantCurator, a job he has diligently carried out for thepast 10 years. His historical knowledge is second-to-none and will continue to be an immeasurable assetto the Museum’s Curator, Comdt Dan Harvey, in thefuture, as he explains the three main themes of theMuseum to visitors: the Barracks’ 200 years of histo-ry; Gen Michael Collins; and Defence ForcePeacekeeping.

While taking the tour around Collins BarracksMuseum and Reference Library it was plain to seethat history prior to May 18th 1922 had not been

Irish soldiers have a long and honourable traditionof honouring their fallen comrades. In the wake ofthe tragic deaths of Ptes Stephen Griffin andThomas Barrett from Collins Bks Cork, who lost

their lives while serving with UNIFIL in April 1980, anumber of their comrades conceived the idea ofestablishing a military museum and reference libraryin honour of all those from the barracks who losttheir lives while in active training or on overseasservice. The then Barrack Commander, Lt-Col CyrilMcQuillan, sanctioned this plan and provided a loca-tion at the base of the Clock Tower. A committeecomprising of BQMS John ‘Ginger’O’Leary, CQMSCon O'Sullivan, CQMS Tony Connolly, Sgt PatMcKee, Sgt Patrick McDonagh and Cpl Gerry White,was then formed and tasked with refurbishing thislocation and collecting a wide range of artefacts,books and other military memorabilia. The museumwas eventually opened on January 31st 1985 in con-junction with the ‘Cork 800’ celebrations. Since thenthe duties of Museum supervisor have been per-formed by: CQMS Con O’Sullivan (1985-1987), SgtGerry White (1987-1988) and Sgt Tony Fitzgerald(1989-1994). In 1992 Comdt Dan Harvey became themuseums first qualified Curator and in 1995 Sgt PatCremin (retd) was employed as Assistant Curator.

As the museum collection continued to expand itsoon became evident to the Curator that a new anddedicated showcase was necessary to protect thepriceless history of the Defence Force and CollinsBarracks. Through the encouragement and support offormer and present Brigade and BarrackCommanders, the help afforded by Cork City’s Lord

One of the many benefits to being the European CapitalCity of Culture is the number of diverse projects thatcan be completed for the betterment of all the inhabi-tants of the Cultural City. In this particular case themembers of the Defence Force based in CollinsBarracks, Cork recently witnessed the official openingof the new Collins Barracks Museum and ReferenceLibrary by Mr Willie O'Dea TD, Minister for Defence.

To remember whathas past andrecord what is yetto come.

Motto of CollinsBarracks Museum

and Reference Library

ProtectingOur Past



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All photos kindly suppliedby Brian MacCormaic, PRO ChildAid.

Comdt Dan Murphy (MuseumCurator) explains some of theexhibits to Mr Willie O’Dea, TD(Minister for Defence) and theRight Hon Seán Martin, LordMayor of Cork.All photos: Armn Billy Galligan.

rewritten and the former-occupiers of CollinsBarracks (then-Victoria Barracks) were to be seenboth in pictures and military memorabilia. The bar-racks was originally designed by John Gibson andconstructed over a five-year period (1801-06) In addi-tion to providing a military presence in the ‘RebelCity’ of Cork the British also used the Barracks as astaging post for units setting out to defend theempire or to take part in major conflicts including theCrimean War, the Boer War and the First World War.

However, many other significant events in the his-tory of the barracks are captured on film, canvas,poster and paper, including its occupation by theCork Brigade of Irish Volunteers on May 18th 1922, itssubsequent sacking and burning by anti-Treatyforces during the Civil War in August 1922, and itssubsequent rebuilding and occupation NationalArmy – a position that has been maintained by theIrish Defence Force for the past 83 years. There arealso many other displays of Defence Force history,including the many peacekeeping missions andreminders of the ultimate sacrifice that members ofthe garrison have made for the cause of peace.Along with a photograph of Comdt Seán Murray ofthe Irish Volunteers, the first Irish Commander ofCollins Barracks, there is an excellent referencelibrary and equipment display that includes one ofthe Casement rifles retrieved from the Aud and pre-sented by Comdt Pat Sweeney on behalf of the ArmyDiving Group, in October 2000 and a SAKER Cannoncirca 1570-80.

February 22nd 2005 was indeed a defining momentin the history of both the Defence Forces andCollins Barracks. Professor Joe Lee of UCC oncesaid that, “A Nation which fails to study its militaryheritage renders the education of its citizens incom-plete.” Today, as Collins Barracks overlooks the

“A Nation whichfails to study itsmilitary heritagerenders the educa-tion of its citizensincomplete.”

Professor Joe Lee,UCC.

European Capital of Culture from its location highon the hill known as Rath Mor (Great Fort), its garri-son has a new location in which to study their ownmilitary heritage. And they can be assured that,thanks to the efforts of those involved in the provi-sion of the new museum, their own unique part inthe history of Collins Barracks will be one day berecorded and displayed for future generations ofIrish soldiers.■



Stephen O’Donnell’s book The Royal IrishConstabulary and the Black and Tans in CountyLouth, 1919-1922, gives an account of the eventsthat occurred in County Louth, Ireland, during the

1919-1921 War of Independence, exclusively dealingwith incidents that involved the Royal IrishConstabulary (RIC). The Author states that althoughthere were no attacks on British military units servingin Co Louth during the ‘War’, the RIC (who were rein-forced with ‘Auxillaries’ and ‘Black & Tans’ from GreatBritain during the 1920/1921 period) did become fairgame!

This book is cleverly divided into six sections withPart 1 giving an analysis of the RIC, from the conven-tional (Old) RIC to the reinforced RIC and their result-ant distribution throughout the County in 1920/1921.

The names and locations of every RIC memberserving in Co Louth, until the unit’s disbandment, isalso discussed, as well as the disparity between theBritish reinforcements and the Old RIC. An example ofthis is given with the account of one particular incidentthat occurred seven miles south of the Co Louth bor-der, in Balbriggan, Co Dublin. In his only departurefrom Co Louth, Stephen O’Donnell gives a briefdescription of one of the most infamous acts by theBlack and Tans during their stay in Ireland, the sackingand burning of Balbriggan Town.

Parts II and III describes every action to occur in CoLouth during the conflict that resulted in deaths foreither side, and the innocent victims who were caughtup in the struggle.

The Royal Irish Constabulary and the Black andTans in County Louth, 1919-1922, is awash with infor-mation and this is fully seen in Part IV, with thedescriptions of the end of the War and the last bullet tobe shot at 11.55am July 11th 1921. Also described is theseries of events that led to the death of TemporaryConstable Benjamin Bentley (No 75312), the last Blackand Tan to die in Ireland.

Part V comprises a witness statement (WS 509)given to the Bureau of Military History 1913-1921 byJohn J McConnell, an RIC District Inspector, who rem-inisces about his service before and during the conflict.While Part VI relates the experiences of two Black andTan members who served in Ireland during this trou-bled time. This section also includes a step-back intime with a summary describing the Co LouthVolunteers’ answer to a ‘call to arms’ at Easter 1916and the incident in the village of Castlebellinghamwhere an RIC member was shot and killed on EasterMonday 1916.

The Royal Irish Constabulary and the Black and Tansin County Louth, 1919-1922, at 230 pages, is well illus-trated with pictures, maps, etc, as well as a number ofextracts from witness statements to the Bureau ofMilitary History, 1913-1921. An enjoyable and informa-tive read, Stephen O’Donnell has managed to get themix just right for both informed readers and studentsof Irish history.■

The Royal Irish Constabulary and the Black and Tans in CountyLouth, 1919-1922 may be purchased from the author for €17.00,including postage and packing, by writing to:

Stephen O’Donnell5 Avondale ParkAvenue RoadDundalkCo Louth

BOOK REVIEW

The Royal Irish Constabularyand the Black and Tans inCounty Louth, 1919-1922

By Stephen O’Donnell

Stephen O’Donnell, a native ofDundalk, Co Louth, served with thePermanent Defence Force from1960 to 1996. All of Stephen’s mil-itary service, apart from sevenmonths, was carried out with theMilitary Police Corps, EasternCommand. Stationed in AikenBarracks, Dundalk, from 1972 untilhis retirement, Stephen presentlyworks as a part-time worker inthe County Museum, Dundalk, andis a co-author of Military BarracksDundalk – A Brief History.


Documents

00-An Cos-mar-05 (p1-17) · ONET’s latest housing project in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Report by Cpl Paul Hevey 18 Book Review The Royal Irish Constabulary and the Black and Tans