ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Commandant Richard (Dick) Irwin of Glounthaune and Ballymacoda, County Cork and Rathcoole, County Dublin. On August 16th 2024, peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and in the excellent care of the staff at Marymount Hospice. Beloved husband of Margaret (née Grimes), loving father of Helen, Richard, David, Patrick, Edmond and Derek. Sadly missed by his loving wife and family, son-in-law James, daughters-in-law Bernie, Caroline, Julie and Karin, his adored grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, Defence Forces comrades and friends.
May he Rest in Peace
Dick Irwin was born on 6th June 1934. He enlisted in the Defence Forces on 11th February 1952 as a recruit and rose to the rank of Sergeant in 4 Infantry Battalion, Collins Barracks Cork. He was selected as a student on 2 Potential Officers’ Course and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Supply and Transport Corps on 7th December 1970. Dick went on to serve in a number of appointments with the Corps in the Dublin area.
Overseas Dick served as a sergeant with B Company, 32 Infantry Battalion ONUC in the Congo in 1960 (photo above shows an alert Sergeant Irwin with members of the local security forces). This was the first unit of the Defence Forces to serve overseas. In this context Dick was a contributor to “Ireland in the Service of the Future”, a film featuring the 32 and 33 Infantry Battalions, produced in 2020 by McKee Officers Club to mark the 60th anniversary of the Congo mission. Dick was an active member of the club and the film may be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB3XcZSvIgg Dick went on to serve with 3 Infantry Group UNFICYP in Cyprus.
Reposing at Barry Brothers’ Funeral Home, Hazelwood, Glanmire, County Cork on Monday (August 19th) from 5.00pm to 6.00pm. House private please.
Requiem Mass at 2.00pm on Tuesday (August 20th) in the Sacred Heart Church, Glounthaune, which can be viewed at: http://glounthauneparish.ie/broadcast-live/ Funeral afterwards to Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, Little Island. Family flowers only, please, donations in lieu to Marymount Hospice: https://marymount.ie/
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Dick’s death notice on rip.ie – https://rip.ie/death-notice/richard-dick-irwin-cork-glounthaune-565767
