Search Results for 'Army'

November 1920 was the most vicious month in the War of Independence. Murder and mayhem were commonplace. The authorities reacted with vigorous severity. There were shootings and public beatings, buildings and homes burnt, and printing works wrecked. There was a sweeping roundup of the usual suspects, numbering in their thousands. The old gaol in Galway, and gaols throughout Ireland, were full to bursting point.

Liam Ó Briain, professor of romance languages UCG, was arrested by the Black and Tans on November 21 1920. He was taken to the RIC barracks, at that time in Dominick Street, and then up to the army barracks at Earls island, where he was identified. Other men arrested stood in line. They were watched by ‘pompous young officers’ who, with ‘a hand on their guns’ ‘sniggered’ at the standing prisoners. They went up and down pulling hands out of their pockets. Ó Briain, in his recently published essays on his experiences,* did not sound too concerned. He was well known to the police authorities. Because of the murder and mayhem during the week of his arrest, he must have been expecting to be picked up.

On August 4 1914, Lt Col Henry Jourdain, Commander of the Connaught Rangers in Renmore Barracks, Galway, received mobilisation orders which changed the lives of thousands of families throughout the city and county. Urgent appeals for recruits were sent out. Hundreds of young men began arriving from all over Connacht. Temporary military camps were set up outside the barracks to cater for the recruits.

Five Westmeath volunteers were in attendance at the informative and interactive Foroige annual conference which took place in Hotel Kilkenny at the weekend.

Athlone based Senator, Gabrielle McFadden, has welcomed confirmation from the Department of Finance and Expenditure reform that they are willing to fund a number of outstanding Defence Force pay issues with effect from the October 1.

The problem of retaining personnel in the Defence Forces has “reached crisis point”, according to Galway West Independent TD Noel Grealish, who also alleged the root of the problem lay in the Department of Defence, and not within the army itself.

Athlone Town Mayor, Cllr. Frankie Keena, has thanked the Custume Barracks based Defence Forces for conducting a capability display which highlighted to local elected representatives how they could best assist local communities in major weather events or emergencies.

Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM, has announced the launch of the second of this year’s General Service recruitment competitions for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF).

Ongoing concern with regard to better pay and conditions for Defence Force personnel has been raised at Government level by Athlone Senator, Gabrielle McFadden.

The treatment of thousands of members of the Defence Forces deployed on duties surrounding Pope Francis’s visit to Ireland has been condemned as "despicable" by a Galway TD.