ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Colonel Joe Young of Barna, County Galway and formerly of Donnycarney, Dublin. On Saturday, 6th May 2023 in his 90th year, very peacefully at home with his dearly loved wife Barbara (née Mullan) and daughters, Aisling, Karen, Shirine and Orla by his side. Predeceased by his much-loved siblings Essie, Phyllis, Séamus, Pat, Tony, Davrul and Eamon. Joe is deeply mourned and greatly missed by his wife, daughters, brothers, sons-in-law and adored grandchildren; Aisling’s husband David and children Joe and Orla, Karen’s husband Pat and children Mark and Christina, Shirine’s husband Justin and children Zoe, Jordan and Sam, Orla’s husband Brian and children Saoirse and Óisín, and Brian’s children Aoibhinn and Brian and by his brothers Liam and Seán. Sadly missed also by brothers-in-law in particular Seán Williams and sisters-in-law, relatives, Defence Forces colleagues and friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís
Joe Young, a native of Donnycarney in Dublin, was born on 15th November 1933 and attended Saint Joseph’s Christian Brothers School in Fairview. He enlisted in the Defence Forces as a member of 27 Cadet Class and was commissioned on 6th December 1954 into the Infantry Corps. He spent his early years with An Céad Cathlán in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Galway and, afterwards, in a wide variety of appointments throughout the Defence Forces.
Overseas Joe served as a Platoon Commander with 36 Infantry Battalion in the Congo from December 1961 to May 1962. On 16 July 1970, while serving with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, he was one of a party of four Military Observers conducting a reconnaissance when they came under fire. One observer was killed and another wounded. In a further incident he sustained serious hand injuries in a landmine explosion that destroyed his UN vehicle and killed a fellow Military Observer. He was Second in Command of 49 Infantry Battalion and Officer Commanding 57 Infantry Battalion UNIFIL in Lebanon. Joe also served with the United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group.
Joe played senior hurling with Dublin and won an All-Ireland Junior Medal with that county. While playing with Saint Vincents he won numerous senior and junior medals in both football and hurling. He was the holder of Leinster Colleges and Army Medals and was one of four Army Officers who played on the 1956 Galway team that won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship together with Jack Kissane, Gerry Kerwin, and Billy O’Neill. The reserve goalkeeper was Private Jody O’Neill. Joe suffered a fractured collar bone in the match, which was against Cork.
Reposing at the Cillín within the Church of Mary Immaculate Queen, Barna (H91 A2T7) on Monday, 8th May, 2023 from 5.30 p.m. with removal at 7 p.m. into the Church. Requiem Mass will be celebrated for Joe on Tuesday, 9th May at 12 noon. Following Mass he will be laid to rest in Réalt na Mara cemetery, Furbo (H91 NY09). Livestreaming link for Mass: https://www.churchtv.ie/barna/
Donations in lieu of flowers to Irish Cancer Society or Galway Hospice.
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Joe’s death notice on rip.ie – https://rip.ie/death-notice/col.-joe-young-retd.-barna-galway/534911
