ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Commandant Ciaran Leonard, of Shankill and Sandymount, County Dublin, and formerly of Hong Kong and Singapore. Ciaran died on Friday, 27th February 2026, at the Blackrock Clinic, surrounded by his children and “best man” Brendan. Beloved husband of the late Pat and brother of Paul and the late Clare and Joe. Sadly missed by his daughter Marianne and sons Michael, Patrick and Ian, together with their spouses and grandchildren David, Mark, Zoë, Daniel and Eleanor, extended family, Defence Forces comrades and friends.
May he rest in peace
Ciaran Leonard, who was born on 23rd November 1954, grew up in Hong Kong and Singapore and attended as a boarder at Clongowes Wood College, County Kildare, where he completed his Leaving Certificate in 1972. He graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1981 as a Bachelor in Medicine (MB, BCh, BAO). After holding posts in Portlaoise Hospital, The Rotunda Maternity Hospital, Temple Street Children’s Hospital, and Cherry Orchard Hospital, Ciaran was commissioned into the Defence Forces as a Medical Officer on 2nd January1986. He served in Dublin, Athlone, and The Curragh. Ciaran completed four tours of duty in Lebanon with UNIFIL (two of six months, and two of three months duration). These included 60 Infantry Battalion from November 1986 to April 1987, 63 Infantry Battalion from May 1988 to October 1988, and 85 Infantry Battalion from May 1999 to October 1999. Ciaran retired from Óglaigh na hÉireann in 2002 and was the Examining Physician for Spirasi (The National Centre for Survivors of Torture) until 2019.
Requiem Mass on Wednesday 4th March, at 10.00am in Saint Anne’s Church, Shankill, (https://www.churchservices.tv/shankill) followed by burial in Shanganagh Cemetery.
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Ciaran’s death notice on rip.ie at: https://rip.ie/death-notice/ciaran-leonard-dublin-shankill-623235
