ARCOIreland regrets to inform its members of the death of Colonel Michael (Mick) D. Shannon of Monaleen, County Limerick and formerly of Kilrush, County Clare. On 7 April 2018, peacefully, at University Hospital Limerick. Beloved husband of Jean and dearest father of Caroline, Aoife, Oonagh, John & Michael. Deeply regretted by his sons-in-law Hugh, Kieran & Anthony, daughters-in-law Katherine & Nicolene, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, his nephew Colonel Tim Daly, relatives, Defence Forces colleagues and friends.
Rest in Peace
A member of the 28 Cadet Class, Mick was commissioned in 1955 and appointed to the Artillery Corps. He served with 1 Field Artillery Regiment, 3 Field Artillery Regiment, 4 Air Defence Battery and The Artillery School. He was Regimental Commander of both 1 and 3 Field Artillery Regiments. He held appointments in HQ Southern Command, and was Executive Officer in Training Section, Defence Forces Headquarters. Mick served as Director of Artillery from December 1991 until his retirement in March 1994. In September 1961, as a Platoon Commander in B Company, 35 Infantry Battalion, ONUC, he was engaged in the fighting at Lufira Bridge with Force Kane, and later in Elizabethville. He served in Cyprus as Troop Commander, Heavy Mortar Troop, with 9 Infantry Group, 1967/68, and with 20 Infantry Group in 1971. His initial service with UNIFIL was in 1978/79, as Adjutant, 44 Infantry Battalion. He later returned to Lebanon during the period 1884/85 where he served with HQ UNIFIL. From 1989 through 1990, he served in Honduras in Central America with ONUCA.
Following retirement, under the auspices of the European Union and OSCE, Mick was actively involved in election monitoring and peace transition operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, and South Africa where he met Nelson Mandela. He was Chairman of the Irish Peace Institute, University of Limerick from 1999 until 2006, was a long and active member of Limerick Lions Club and President of Limerick Rotary Club.
Reposing at Griffin’s Funeral Home, John’s Gate on Monday, 9 April from 1700hrs until 1900hrs. Funeral arriving at Mary Magdalene Church, Monaleen, Castletroy, on Tuesday, 10 April for 1100hrs Mass. Burial afterwards in Kilmurry Cemetery.
