Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel muster at Haulbowline

Section of those who attended the Commander George Crosbie Branch of O.N.E. ‘Lá na bhFiann’ at the Naval Base Haulbowline on Sunday July 5th. 2015. Among those in the front row are; Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr.Chris Ó Leary and the Lady Mayoress his Wife Angela; O/C Naval Operations Command and 2nd. in Command Naval Service, Captain Dave Barry; President Commander George Crosbie Branch of O.N.E., Seán Kavanagh; President Irish Naval Association, Declan Pendred; Garda Sergeant, Denis Mc Carthy; O.N.E. Directors, Ger Enright and Peter Byrne; Vice Chairman and P.R.O. Cobh Branch of O.N.E., Domhnall Mac Cárthaigh; Secretary Southern Area Council of O.N.E., Tony Canning.

There was the usual big muster for the Commander George Crosbie Branch of the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel ( O.N.E. ) ‘Lá na bhFiann’ ( Warriors’ Day ) . Which was held at the Naval Base, Haulbowline, on Sunday July 5th. 2015. This is the occasion when O.N.E. Branches traditionally remember and honour their deceased comrades. The Commander George Crosbie Branch was joined for the occasion by members of the following O.N.E. branches: Cobh , Cork City, Imokilly, Mícheal Mac Aodh Bhuí Ballincollig, Nenagh Lower Ormonde, Patrick Sarsfield Limerick, Sergeant Tommy Halligan Tipperary, and Waterford.

Together with Irish Naval Association members from branches in Dublin, Limerick and Waterford, members of the Royal Naval Association Cork and County, and members of the Civil Defence. The following dignitaries were also in attendance; Officer Commanding Naval Operations Command & 2i/c Naval Service, Captain Dave Barry; Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Chris Ó Leary and the Lady Mayoress his Wife Angela; Naval Service Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Des Campion SDH CF; Naval Service Liaison Officer to the O.N.E., Lt. Commander Brian Lane; Officer Commanding Southern Group Naval Service Reserve, Lt. Commander Michael Relihan NSR; President Commander George Crosbie Branch of O.N.E., Seán Kavanagh and his Wife Breda; President Cobh Branch of O.N.E., Fred Crudge; President Irish Naval Association, Declan Prendred; Chairman Post 5 IUNVA, Patsy Dineen; First Officer Civil Defence, AFS John Tyner; Chairman Royal Naval Association Cork and County Branch, John West; Sergeant Denis Mc Carthy, An Garda Síochána; David Sward, Maritime Institute of Ireland, Munster Section; O.N.E. Directors, Ger Enright and Peter Byrne.

The four pretty ladies who supplied badly needede refreshments to the earlyarrivals at the Commander George Crosbie Branch ‘Lá na bhFiann’ at the Naval Base Haulbowline on Sunday July 5th. 2015. L/R; Breda Kavanagh, Kay Condon, Marion Dawson and Mary Mc Intyre.

Officer Commanding Naval Operations Command, Captain Dave Barry, in his address of welcome expressed a wish that everyone visiting the Naval Base for the occasion would have a very enjoyable day. He said it was in his opinion a good idea for anyone retiring from the Defence Forces to join O.N.E. or a similar veterans’ organisation.

The ceremony consisted of prayers and blessings by the Naval Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Des Campion; A minute silence marked by the sounding of the traditional Naval Salute ‘The Still’ and ‘Carry on’, sounded on the Bosun’s Pipe by Larry Keating of the Commander George Crosbie Branch. The Commodore Male Voice Choir under Conductor Alan Carney sang the hymn “ Nearer my God to Thee”. The National Anthem was played by the Carraigaline Pipe Band under Pipe Major, Jason Deasy.

‘Parade led by the ‘Clour Party’ marching to Church on the occasion of the Commander George Crosbie Branch of O.N.E. ‘Lá na bhFiann’ at the Naval Base Haulbowline on Sunday July 5th. 2015

The ‘Colour Party’ ,followed by the main body, under ‘Parade Marshal’ Derek Dawson, then marched behind the Carraigaline Pipe Band to the garrison Church where Naval Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Des Campion offered Mass for the deceased members of the Commander George Crosbie Branch. At the ‘Offertory’, the ‘Colour Party’ approached the Altar and rendered honours, while the ‘Still’ and ‘Carry-on’ were sounded on the Bosun’s Pipe. A lighted candle representing every branch member who had passed on during the last 25 years was brought to the altar by either a family member or a branch member.

The Commodore Male Voice Choir sang during the Mass and at the end John Crowley of Cobh Confraternity Band Sounded ‘Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’.
Everyone then proceeded to the N.C.O’s Mess to enjoy the traditional ‘Ceol agus Craic’ together with the very tasty finger food provided by the host branch