Thursday, 9th April 2026 was commissioning day for the 52 members of 101 Cadet Class at Pearse Barracks, The Curragh. Major-General Maureen O’Brien DSM (Retd) represented ARCO at the ceremony and presented the association’s sword to the best overall student on the course, Lieutenant Matthew Sweeney. Matthew is from Ardara, County Donegal, is 25 years […]
Category Archives: Events
08
Apr
Apr
On Easter Sunday, 5th April 2026, the President of ARCO, Major-General Maureen O’Brien DSM, attended the 110th Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising at the General Post Office, in O’Connell Street, Dublin 1. The Ceremony was led by an tUachtarán, Catherine Connolly, an Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, an Tánaiste Simon Harris TD, the Minister for […]
22
Feb
Feb
Commandant Rory Finegan, a member of our Association and Deputy Director, Centre for Military History & Strategic Studies at NUI Maynooth, has asked us to pass on information about a forthcoming conference at the university. Invisible Lines, Intertwined Histories of the Irish Border, compares and analyses differences in the scale, type and evolution of issues […]
07
Dec
Dec
On Thursday, 4th December 2025, the Irish United Nations Veterans Training Centre was officially opened by the Minister for Defence Helen McEntee TD at Arbour Hill. The centre is dedicated to the late Major-General Vinny Savino, the Founding Member and National Honorary President of IUNVA. Major-General Maureen O’Brien DSM (Retd) represented ARCO at the event. […]
06
Dec
Dec
Saturday, 29th November 2025, marked the unveiling of a bust of Trooper Anthony Browne MMG at Arbour Hill. The bust was commissioned by a committee from the Irish United Nations Veterans Association and was undertaken by one of Ireland’s leading bronze portrait sculptors, Séamus Connolly. The plinth stand, and inscription, is by Stephen Bracken of […]
22
Nov
Nov
On Thursday, 20th November 2025 The Joint Committee on Defence and National Security invited ARCO to a meeting in Leinster House to brief the Committee in relation to Key Issues Affecting Defence Forces Veterans. Invitations to the meeting were also sent to the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel and […]
12
Nov
Nov
On Saturday, 8th November 2025 the Annual Commemoration Ceremony for those who died in the Niemba Ambush took place in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin. The ceremony, which was organised by the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE), commenced with Mass in the Garrison Church and was followed by a wreath laying ceremony. Our President, Major-General […]
05
Nov
Nov
On Friday, 31st October 2025, the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris TD, carried out the ministerial review of 127 Infantry Battalion which will shortly deploy as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The review was held in Custume Barracks, Athlone. Our President, Major-General Maureen O’Brien DSM (Retd.), represented ARCO […]
29
Oct
Oct
The President, Chairperson, and Board of Directors of the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel have invited ARCO members to attend the 64th Annual Mass and Wreath Laying Ceremony to honour our comrades who lost their lives in the service of peace at Niemba, Congo on 8th November 1960. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, […]
30
Sep
Sep
Book now for the Defence Forces Annual Gala Concert which takes place in the National Concert Hall on Saturday, 11th October 2025 at 8 pm. Booking is at (01) 4170000 or through the NCH website at www.nch.ie Defence Forces Bands and special guest mezzo-soprano Gemma Ní Bhriain will combine for an evening of military favourites […]