Local soldiers to assist at inauguration of new President

Ahead of the inauguration of president-elect, Catherine Connolly, on Tuesday, November 11, Noel O’Callaghan has been looking at the involvement of the Defence Forces, and in particular the connections to Westmeath.

He writes:

There will be hundreds of members of the Defence Forces involved, but let us focus on 2 Brigade Artillery Regiment, based at Custume Barracks, Athlone, who will provide the 25 Pounder Field Gun Battery for the 21 Gun Salute, in Collins Barracks Dublin at approximately 12.40pm – but precisely when an t-Uachtaráin places her pen to the inauguration paper.

The gun detachments and other elements of the gun battery will be made up of men and women of all ranks who have experience and expertise at home and overseas, though for some it will be a first. For others the presidential salute will be a follow on to the honours rendered to President Michael D Higgins in 2011.

The four following gunners gained their initial experience with the 4th Field Artillery Regiment in Columb Barracks, Mullingar.

The Regimental Commander (Commanding Officer) is Cork man Lt Col Niall Verling, a second generation soldier who gained his status as a gunner with the 4th Field Artillery Regiment in Columb Barracks, having arrived as a young leader from the cadet school in 1992.

Lt Col Niall Verling was the Battery Commander for the 2011 inaugural gun salute, also in Collins Barracks, and was based in Brussels for the 2018 ceremony.

Commandant Emmet Gallagher, a native of Tullamore is a first generation soldier who also got his grounding with the regiment in Columb Barracks, having arrived as a young leader from the cadet school in 2009.

He was the Operations Officer on the gun salute in 2011 and is now the Battery Commander for the salute on Tuesday. He was Aide De Camps to President Higgins for the 2018 ceremony (see photo).

Regiment Sergeant Major Jack McNamee is a native of Mullingar and a second generation soldier who trained as a recruit in 1999 with the regiment in Columb Barracks. He has brought with him the customs and traditions of the artillery coupled with 21st century skills. Jack was overseas in 2011 and 2018. As the Regiment Sergeant Major, he is responsible for ceremonial and has a key role in the leadership and management team.

Regiment Quarter Master Sergeant Oliver Mahedy, a native of Mullingar who also trained as a recruit in 1990 with the Regiment in Columb Barracks, is a first generation soldier, though his father was the barrack foreman in charge of the civilian maintenance team (BFW) in Mullingar. He was on the inaugural ceremonies in 2011 and 2018.

Although the 2018 was a reduced ceremony, the 21 round gun salute marked the occasion (see photo).

The Defence Forces have performed ceremonial duty since June 25, 1938 when Dr Douglas Hyde took the oath as the first president of Ireland.

The four soldiers named here are a reminder of the people behind the uniforms. It is important to remember when watching the president’s inaugural ceremony unfold that we look beyond the dress, deportment and drills of our Defence Forces, and remember they are our civilians in uniform, all who have families, loyal service and a story to tell, the physical manifestation of a modern military, servants of the nation, upholding the traditions of the past with the skills of the present.