ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Colonel Donal O’Carroll, Moorefield Drive, Newbridge, County Kildare on 9th August 2026 (peacefully) in the exceptionally kind care of Suncroft Lodge Nursing Home in his 100th year. Beloved husband of the late Sheila and dear father of Michael, Kate, Finola, Dan and Rory. He will be greatly missed by them and his ten grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, daughters-in-law, son-in-law, his sister Liz, extended family, neighbours, Defence Forces comrades and friends.
Requiescat In Pace
Donal O’Carroll was born on 27th June 1927 in London within the sound of the Bow Bells, making him a genuine Cockney. He had vivid memories of the run up to the Second World War, both in London and in Ireland.
Donal enlisted in Óglaigh na hÉireann as a member of 19 Cadet Class on 15th November 1945 and was commissioned into the Infantry Corps on 10th November 1947. He was posted to 13 Infantry Battalion in Clonmel. There he met Sheila McCarthy, they married in 1955 and raised a family of five children. Donal was posted as Admin Officer with 14 Infantry Battalion (An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil) in October 1959 and in August 1964 was posted as an instructor in the Command and Staff School following the completion of his course there. He would go on to have a close association with the Military College later serving as Commandant of both the Infantry School and the Command and Staff School. He was appointed Officer Commanding 5 Infantry Battalion in November 1978. He also served as Officer Commanding Curragh Command FCA and in February 1987 was appointed Director Reserve Forces, with the Chief of Staff’s Branch. Donal retired from the Defence Forces on 27th June 1987 in the rank of Colonel.
Overseas Donal served with Headquarters UNFICYP in Cyprus as the Force Economics Officer from August 1977 to September 1978. He was Military Adviser to the Irish Delegation at the Conference on Confidence and Security Building Measures and Disarmament in Stockholm from April 1985 to October 1986.
A keen sportsman he captained the Clonmel Rugby Football Club team, was Hooker for the Southern Command, and toured London with Clanwilliam Rugby Football Club in 1953. An ardent Munster supporter, he was also interested in cricket and played golf in The Royal Curragh Golf Club well into his eighties.
Donal was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in History, Philosophy and Economics from University College Dublin, and a Masters in Political Science from Trinity College. He had a tremendous interest in military history and lectured, served on the Council, and was President of the Military History Society of Ireland.
Reposing at Anderson & Leahy’s Funeral Home, Henry Street, Newbridge on Wednesday from 4pm with prayers at 7pm. Removal on Thursday morning at 10.30am to arrive at the Dominican College Church, Newbridge for Mass at 11am.
Mass can be viewed on https://dominicansnewbridge.ie/live-streaming/
Funeral afterwards to Saint Conleth’s Cemetery, Newbridge.
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Donal’s death notice on rip.ie at: https://rip.ie/death-notice/col-donal-ocarroll-retd-kildare-newbridge-638735
