ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Lieutenant-Colonel David (Dave) Griffin of Ravensdale, Dundalk, County Louth, and formerly of Ennis, County Clare. Passed away peacefully at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital on Thursday, 2nd April 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Predeceased by his parents Liam and Sheila, brothers Derry, Mike and Anthony, sister Jean, and his godson Ronan. Beloved and dear husband of Celine (née Dorrian), and loving father of Ian, Fergus and Clare. David will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, sons, daughter, son-in-law Mark, daughters-in-law Eva and Laura, his adored granddaughter Hannah, brothers Willie, Martin and John, sisters Kathleen, Mary and Molly, brothers and sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours, Defence Forces comrades, and many wonderful friends.
May He Rest Easy
Dave Griffin was born in Ennis, County Clare on 25th July 1948. He enlisted in Óglaigh na hÉireann on 15th October 1968 as a member of 43 Cadet Class. Commissioned into the Infantry Corps on 28th September 1970, he held a wide variety of appointments in that Corps and was associated in particular with 27 Infantry Battalion in Dundalk. He was appointed its Battalion Commander in July 2000. Dave was also Operations Officer of Eastern Command Infantry Force in 1992, and Executive Officer, Defence Force Operations at Defence Forces Headquarters in 2002.
Dave had extensive overseas service. He was Second in Command with A Company, 45 Infantry Battalion UNIFIL in Lebanon in 1979 and returned as Battalion Operations Officer with 79 Infantry Battalion in 1996. He served in Damascus and in Tehran with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in 1983/1985. In 1988 he deployed as Military Assistant to the Chief Military Observer with the United Nations Iran Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG). In Cyprus with UNFICYP he was Senior Liaison Officer with the Greek Cypriot Army in 1999. Dave’s final deployment before he retired on 25th July 2006 was with the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia.
Reposing at Shevlin’s Funeral Home, Barrack Street [A91 Y3CX] on Easter Sunday from 3pm to 7pm. House private please. A celebration of David’s life will take place on Easter Monday in Lakelands Crematorium, Dublin Road, Cavan [H12 RF78] at 1pm. (https://www.churchservices.tv/lakelands – Password Crem6M)
Donations in lieu of flowers to ILFA – Irish Lung Fibrosis Association in Memory of David GRIFFIN at: https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/DG37742791/donate.html
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Dave’s death notice on rip.ie at: https://rip.ie/death-notice/david-griffin-clare-ennis-626531
