ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Commandant Hugh O’ Neill, Kill-Saint-Anne, Castlelyons, and formerly of Cobh, County Cork. Hugh passed away peacefully on Sunday 21st June 2026, at home, surrounded by his loving family. Pre-deceased by his daughter Niamh (Marshall). Beloved husband of Nuala (nee Lynskey), much loved father of Shane, Colm, Killian, Cathal and brother of Margaret Mary (Kelly) and Paul. Hugh will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, sons, brother, sister, daughters-in-law Nicola, Bronwyn, Sue and Orlaith, son-in-law Gavin, eleven adored grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours, Defence Forces comrades, and a wide circle of friends.
May Hugh rest in peace
Hugh O’Neill was born in Cobh, County Cork on 22nd October 1951 and attended Saint Coleman’s College, Fermoy. He enlisted in Óglaigh na hÉireann on 14th October 1969 as a member of 44 Cadet Class. Commissioned into the Cavalry Corps on 27th September 1971, he was posted as a Tank Troop Commander with 1 Tank Squadron in Plunkett Barracks, the Curragh. Hugh was Technical Officer with 4 Motor Squadron in Longford in 1972 following its redeployment from the Curragh to Connolly Barracks Longford. In 1979 he was posted to 1 Cavalry Squadron in Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy. He also served as Administrative Officer in the Naval Service Depot.
Hugh served overseas with UNIFIL in Lebanon and was Technical Officer with both Recce Company 47 Infantry Battalion in 1980, and Recce Company 53 Infantry Battalion in 1983. He was Quartermaster 61 Infantry Battalion in 1987.
Hugh retired from the Permanent Defence Force on 25th April 1988 in the rank of Commandant as Squadron Commander, 1 Cavalry Squadron and was posted to the Reserve of Officers (First Line). He went on to work for over twenty years with the United Nations in Logistics, Procurement and Project Management. His initial appointment was with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Jordan, followed by Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic, and at UNRWA’s Headquarters in Vienna. He subsequently served with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in London. Hugh’s extensive United Nations service concluded with the UN Peacekeeping Missions in Zagreb, Croatia with UNPROFOR, and thereafter in Mitrovica, Kosovo with UNMIK.
Hugh was awarded a Diploma in Motor Industry Management from the Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street in 1976, and a BA degree in Politics and History from University College Cork in 2011.
Reception into Saint Nicholas’ Church, Castlelyons P61 DR77 on Monday June 22nd for prayers at 6pm followed by reposing until 7.30pm. Requiem Mass on Tuesday June 23rd at 12 noon followed by burial in the local cemetery. House strictly private please. Family flowers only.
Donations to Marymount University Hospice in Memory of Hugh O’ Neill at: https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/HO12218655/donate.html
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Hugh’s death notice on rip.ie at: https://rip.ie/death-notice/hugh-o-neill-cork-cobh-634177
