ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Colonel William (Bill) Egar, Bishopscourt, Cork and late of Mourneabbey, Mallow and Skibbereen. On November 7th, 2025, in the gentle, affectionate, and attentive care of the staff of Saint Claire’s Ward of Saint Finbarr’s Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of the late Rose Mary (née O’Connell), adored father of Steve, Bruce and Laura, dear brother of Bernadette, Tony and the late Elinor and Mary, cherished grandfather of Sarah, Connor, Finnuala, Rosemary and Iris and precious great-grandfather of Rian and Andie. Mourned by his adoring family, daughters-in-law Evelyn and Kate, grand son-in-law Andrew, nephews, nieces in Canada, Dublin and Cork. Especially missed by all his friends in Rockwell College, 33 Cadet Class, his former Army Colleagues, his team mates at Skibbereen R.F.C., Sunday’s Well R.F.C. and Munster Rugby, his golfing friends at Cork G.C., Skibbereen G.C. and Macroom G.C., his former United Nations Colleagues, his friends in Mallow, Skibbereen and Cork.
Go raibh suaimhneas sioraí da anam, slan abhaile
William (Bill) Egar was born in the parish of Mourneabbey, Mallow, County Cork, on 16th March 1939. He enlisted in the Defence Forces on 27th January 1959 as a member of 33 Cadet Class and was commissioned into the Infantry Corps on 19th December 1960. Most of Bill’s service was spent in the Southern Command with, in particular 4 Infantry Battalion, where he was Officer Commanding in 1989, and with 11 Infantry Battalion FCA. He was Executive Officer and Second-in-Command, Southern Command in 1993 and commanded 2 Infantry Brigade in the Eastern Command in 1994.
Bill served with ONUC in the Congo as a Lieutenant with B Company, 39 Infantry Battalion from April to October 1963. UNFICYP in Cyprus saw him serve with B Company, 10 Infantry Group from March to October 1968. He served in Lebanon as Company Commander, B Company, 45 Infantry Battalion from May to October 1979, and returned for his second UNIFIL tour of duty as Company Commander, Reconnaissance Company, 54 Infantry Battalion from October 1983 to May 1984. Bill’s final tour of duty in Lebanon was as Battalion Commander, 67 Infantry Battalion from May to October 1990. He was an observer with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation in the Middle-East during 1986/1988, with the United Nations Angola Verification Mission in 1992/1993, and with the United Nations Special Mission in Afghanistan during 1995/1996. His final overseas mission, prior to his retirement from Óglaigh na hÉireann in May 1999, was with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Croatia. On retirement Bill took up a role with OSCE and served in Kosovo as their Field Coordinator.
An all-round sportsman, Bill was a keen golfer, but rugby was his greatest love. He played for Sundays Well Rugby Football Club in Cork where he was Captain and President, and also lined out for Skibbereen and Munster. As befitted his long leadership role with the unit at many levels, Bill was President of 4 Infantry Battalion Association.
Reposing at the Wilton Funeral Home, Sarsfield Road of Jerh. O’Connor Limited on Monday (November 10th) from 5.00pm to 6.00pm. Requiem Mass at 11.00am on Tuesday (November 11th) in Saint Joseph’s S.M.A. Church, Wilton which will be live streamed here: https://www.churchservices.tv/smawilton
Funeral afterwards to Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, Tory Top Road.
Family flowers only please, donations if desired to any of Bill’s favourite charities UNICEF Concern Médecins Sans Frontieres or SVP
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Bill’s death notice on rip.ie at: https://rip.ie/death-notice/william-bill-egar-cork-bishopstown-610600
