ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Colonel Seamus (Jim) Condon of Blackrock, County Dublin. On May 14th, 2023 (Peacefully), in his 94th year, in the loving care of the staff at the Fern Dean Nursing Home, Deansgrange. Darling husband of the late Veronica and beloved father of Andrew, Myriam and Bernice, dear father-in-law to Ruth and Peter, and adored grandfather to Daniel, Theo, and Adam. Deeply regretted by his cousins, sisters-in-law, extended family, Defence Forces colleagues and friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis
Jim Condon was born in Dublin on 3rd April 1930 and grew up in Drumcondra. He enlisted in the Defence Forces as a member of the 22 Cadet Class on 24th January 1949. Commissioned on 13th December 1950 into the Artillery Corps he was posted to 1 Field Artillery Regiment, Ballincollig. He went on to serve in a wide variety of appointments across the Artillery Corps, including that of Director of Artillery. He served in both The Cadet School and The Infantry School of The Military College and held numerous appointments in Defence Forces Headquarters.
Jim served overseas as Staff Officer, B Company Group, 35 Infantry Battalion, in the Congo from June through to December 1961. Archival material lodged by Jim in Military Archives includes photographs and his personal diary while serving with ONUC. From April 1984 to April 1985 he was Camp Commandant of Force Headquarters UNIFIL in Naqoura. He returned to Lebanon in the rank of Colonel in September 1988, where he was Chief Liaison Officer, HQ UNIFIL, and Senior Irish Officer. Jim retired from the Defence Forces in April 1990.
A year-round outdoor swimmer in Dublin Bay, Jim was an active member of Blackrock Bowling Club. During his retirement, he wrote and published the Memoir of Andrew J. Byrne, Veteran of the American Civil War.
Reposing on Wednesday afternoon, May 17th, in Carnegies Funeral Home, Monkstown Crescent, A94 XK28 from 3.30pm to 4.30pm prior to his removal to the Church of Saint John the Baptist, Blackrock arriving at 5pm. Funeral Mass at 10am on Thursday morning, May 18th followed by burial in Deans Grange Cemetery. The Mass may be viewed using the following link: https://www.churchservices.tv/blackrock
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Jim’s death notice on rip.ie – https://rip.ie/death-notice/col.-retired-seamus-jim-condon-blackrock-dublin/535752
