Ex-Service Personnel Gather At Haulbowline Naval Base

A large number of Ex-Service Personnel gathered at the Naval Base, Haulbowline on Sunday 1^st. July 2012 on the occasion of the Commander George Crosbie Branch of the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel ( O.N.E. ) ‘ Lá na bhFiann ‘ ( commemoration day for deceased members ). In addition to numerous branches of O.N.E., there were branches of the Irish Naval Association from Dublin, Limerick and Waterford, also present were members of IUNVA , Royal Naval Association, Cork and County Branch; Members of the Royal British Legion; Civil Defence and the Irish Red Cross.

The event was attended by the following; Deputising for the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service, Lt./ Cdr. Peter Twomey O.C. FORST; Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. John Buttimer; Naval Service Chaplain, Rev. Des Campion SDB,CF; National President O.N.E. Peter Byrne; President Southern Area Council of O.N.E. P.J. Hassett; Naval Service Liasion Officer to O.N.E. Lt. Brian Lane NS; Officer Commanding Southern Group Naval Service Reserve, Lt./ Cdr. Liam Ó Keeffe NSR; President Irish Naval  Association, Gerry Kennedy; Chairman Royal Naval Association, John West; President Commander George Crosbie Branch, John Kavanagh and his Wife Breda; President Cobh Branch O.N.E., Jim Roche; President Patrick Sarsfield Branch O.N.E., Joe Ó Mahony PC; O.N.E. Directors Jer Enright and Domhnall Mac Cárthaigh FS; President Munster Section of The Maritime Institute of Ireland, David Sward and his Wife Lulu; Relatives of deceased members were also in attendance.

The ceremony took place at the O.N.E. Memorial in the Naval Base and the order was as follows: Address of welcome by Lt./ Cdr. Peter Twomey; Blessing and Prayers by Rev. Fr, Des Campion; Oration by O.N.E. National President Peter Byrne; Wreaths were laid by Lt./ Cdr. Peter Twomey, Seán Kavanagh, Jim Roche, Ger Kennedy and John West, on behalf of the Naval Service, Commander George Crosbie Branch, Cobh Branch, Irish Naval Association, and Royal Naval Association respectively. A minutes silence was observed while a ‘ Colour Party ‘ under Parade Marshal, Derek Dawson, and Patrick Brennan on the ‘ Boson’s Pipe ‘ rendered Honours. ‘ Last Post ‘ and ‘ Reveille ‘ were sounded by Bugler John Crowley of Cobh Confraternity Band, and the National Anthem was played by the Carraigaline Pipe Band under Pipe Major Finbarr Foley.

The Carraigaline Pipe Band followed by the ‘ Colour Party ‘ and the Main Body then marched to the Garrison Church Naval Base where Mass was offered for deceased members of O.N.E. by Fr. Des Campion.

Later a hearty Lunch was enjoyed at the Dinning Hall Complex and this was followed by the traditional ‘ Ceol agus Craic ‘ at the N.C.Os’ Mess.

Domhnall Mac Cárthaigh FS

( P.R.O. Southern Area Council of O.N.E.