ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Major-General Seán F. Brennan, Ballyfair Lodge, Ballyfair, The Curragh, peacefully at The Curragh Lawns Nursing Home, surrounded by his loving family on 29th June 2026. Sadly missed by his loving wife Lynne, his children, Seán Óg, Caoimhe, Killian and Beibhinn, son-in-law Tommy, daughter-in-law Niamh, grandchildren Shane, Eoin, Conor and Aoibhín, extended family, relatives, neighbours, Defence Forces comrades and friends.
May Seán Rest In Peace
Seán Brennan was born on 13th January 1944 and enlisted in Óglaigh na hÉireann as a member of 37 Cadet Class on 2nd October 1962. He was one of the twenty six Cadets from his class who were on the special Guard of Honour at the funeral of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery on 25th November 1963. Commissioned into the Corps of Signals on 24th September 1964 Seán’s first posting was with 4 Field Signals Company in Athlone. Postings followed with 2 Field Signals Company in Dublin, as an Instructor in the School of Signals in the Curragh, as a Staff Officer in Depot Signals, as Officer Commanding 1 Field Signals Company in Cork, and as an Instructor in the Military College. Having served as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Directorate of Signals, Seán was appointed Director on promotion to Colonel in 1995. Promoted to Acting Brigadier General in 2000 he worked in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support).
Seán had extensive overseas service. In Cyprus he was Signals Platoon Commander with 12 Infantry Group UNFICYP in 1969. He was Signals Officer with 25 Infantry Group with UNEF in the Sinai in 1973-1974, Chief Signals Officer with UNIFIL Headquarters in Lebanon in 1979-1980, was an Observer with UNTSO in the Middle East in 1984-1986, and with UNIIMOG in Iraq in 1989-1990. He served with the European Community Monitoring Mission in the Former Yugoslavia in 1999-2000 and, finally, as a Brigadier General as head of the European Union Military Communications and Information Services Division in Brussels in 2001-2002. Promoted to Major-General on 1st April 2002, Seán was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) from which he retired on 3rd December 2005.
Seán was a great leader in the Curragh Rugby Club both as a player and an organiser. He played at prop in the front row of the scrum where his size and skill displayed his total commitment to the team and was instrumental in the Club being the top Junior Rugby team in Leinster.
Reposing at his residence (R56 C928) on Wednesday afternoon from 4pm with prayers at 6pm. Removal by Anderson and Leahy funeral directors on Thursday morning at 11.30am to arrive at Saint Brigid’s Church, The Curragh for 12noon Mass. Funeral afterwards to Saint Corban’s Cemetery, Naas.
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Seán’s death notice on rip.ie at: https://rip.ie/death-notice/sean-f-brennan-kildare-the-curragh-634922
