Thursday, 9th April 2026 was commissioning day for the 52 members of 101 Cadet Class at Pearse Barracks, The Curragh. Major-General Maureen O’Brien DSM (Retd) represented ARCO at the ceremony and presented the association’s sword to the best overall student on the course, Lieutenant Matthew Sweeney. Matthew is from Ardara, County Donegal, is 25 years old and is the son of proud parents Sheila Wray and Stephen Sweeney. Before being awarded his Cadetship he studied Economics, Politics and Law at University College Galway.
The commissions were presented by the Minister for Defence Ms. Helen McEntee, T.D. The Minister’s speech at the ceremony may be read at: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-defence/speeches/commissioning-ceremony-of-the-101st-cadet-class-minister-mcentee-speech/
Quite a number of the newly commissioned officers had military connections. Among these were five members of 101 Cadet Class who were serving members of the Permanent Defence Force when they were awarded Cadetships. Also commissioned were Brigadier-General Johnny Whittaker’s son Cian who was Cadet Captain, 2/Lieutenant Isobel Kellegher from Liscarroll, County Cork who is one of three sisters now commissioned into the Defence Forces, and 2/Lieutenant Fionn Cusack a nephew of Captain Maria O’Donoghue (Retd).
