ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Brigadier-General Dan Rea, Eyrefield, The Curragh, and late of Moorefield Lodge, Newbridge, County Kildare. Dan passed away peacefully on 17th October 2023 surrounded by his loving family and in the compassionate care of the wonderful staff of Naas General Hospital, to the inexpressible grief of his beloved wife Anne and his adored daughters Alison and Gillian, his ‘three girls’. Deeply missed by Alison’s partner Jeremy, Gillian’s partner Robin, brother Jim, sisters Denise, Nora and Mary, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, Defence Forces colleagues and a wide circle of cherished friends.
May Dan Rest in Peace
Daniel (Dan) J Rea was born on 26th June 1945. He enlisted in the Defence Forces as a member of 37 Cadet Class on 2nd October 1962 and was a member of the Guard of Honour drawn from that class which rendered military honours at the graveside of President John F. Kennedy on 25th November 1963. Commissioned into the Infantry Corps, he was posted to 4 Infantry Battalion, Collins Barracks, Cork on 28th September 1964. He later served with the 13 Infantry Battalion (FCA) as Training Officer A Company (Fermoy). Dan had a passionate interest in horses and rugby and played a leading role in re-establishing Fermoy RFC. Later in his service in the Curragh Camp he was a stalwart of the Curragh RFC. Posted on promotion to the Curragh Command he held appointments in the Military College and 3 Infantry Battalion. Dan completed the Company Commander’s Course in Warminster and the Staff Course in Camberley. He was Class Officer with 51 Cadet Class.
Dan deployed on his first tour of duty with the United Nations to Cyprus as a Platoon Commander with B Company 6 Infantry Group UNFICYP in April 1966. He returned to Cyprus as a Captain as Operations/Intelligence Officer 25 Infantry Group in October 1973. Four weeks into the tour, on the night of 31st October – 1st November 1973, the unit was redeployed from the Royal Airforce Base at Akrotiri to the Sinai Peninsula with UNEF II following the Yom Kippur War. Dan served in Lebanon as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the appointment of Camp Commandant at UNIFIL Force HQ. As a Lieutenant-Colonel he held the Irish LO appointment at NATO HQ Mons and later in the rank of Colonel served in the Irish Military delegation in Brussels. Dan was Assistant Chief of Staff from January 2002 until his retirement in 2005.
Dan had strong family ties with the Defence Forces. The son of Colonel Bill Rea, his brother is Captain Jim Rea, and his brothers-in-law were the late Colonel Barney Donagh and the late Commandant Brian McKevitt.
Reposing at his home Eyrefield, The Curragh, R56K302 from 4pm on Thursday with prayers at 7pm. Removal by Anderson and Leahy Funeral Directors on Friday morning at 9.30am to arrive Saint Brigid’s Church, The Curragh for 10am Mass with private cremation afterwards for family and close friends.
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Dan’s death notice on rip.ie – https://rip.ie/death-notice/brigadier-general-retd-dan-rea-kildare-the-curragh-533067
