ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Brigadier-General James J. (Jimmy) Flynn DSM of Foxrock, Dublin 18. On April 15, 2021, peacefully at Beaumont Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Dearly loved husband for 57 years of Jennifer (nee Simcox) and adored father of Peter, Trevor, Nicola and Keith. Very sadly missed by his wife, children, daughters-in-law Clodagh, Sally-Ann and Lisa, son-in-law John, grandchildren Isabel, Oliver, Bobby and Roseanna, Anna, Mark, Emily and James, Tom, Kate and Molly, Ebe, Sol and predeceased by his adored grandson Sebe. He will always be lovingly remembered by his brother and sisters Dolores, Geraldine, Cora and Paul and nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours, former Defence Forces colleagues and friends.
Rest in Peace
James Flynn, Jimmy to all who knew him, was born in May 1933. His father, Colonel Jim Flynn, had been Adjutant General and Assistant Chief of Staff in the 1950s. He joined the Defence Forces as a member of 26 Cadet Class in 1951 and was commissioned on 23 November 1953.
He served as a Lieutenant Instructor in the Cadet school during the early 1960s. During his career he was Commanding Officer 5 Infantry Battalion, Director of Intelligence, and General Officer Commanding Eastern Command.
He served with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus in 1973 -74 as the Liaison Officer to the Greek Cypriot National Guard. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with Distinction for his actions during July and August 1974. The citation reads:
Commandant James J. Flynn while serving with the United Nations in Cyprus as Liaison Officer to the Headquarters of the National Guard, during an anti-Government coup and subsequent Turkish intervention in July and August 1974, made an outstanding contribution to the United Nations peacekeeping mission. He displayed to a high degree, the qualities of resourcefulness, initiative, devotion to duty and physical courage in circumstances of grave personal danger and sustained pressure.
A private family funeral for Jimmy will take place in accordance with government guidelines.
The funeral Mass can be viewed on this link on Monday (April 19) at 11am: https://Livestream.absentfriends.ie/JamesFlynn
The cremation service can be viewed on www.vimeo.com/event/153499 at 1pm.
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Jimmy’s death notice on rip.ie – https://rip.ie/death-notice/brig.-gen.-james-j.-jimmy-flynn-dsm-retd.-foxrock-dublin/455909#!photo
