The Taoiseach Mr Leo Varadkar T.D and the Minister of State with special responsibility for Defence, Mr. Paul Kehoe T.D. accompanied by the Chief of Staff Vice-Admiral Mark Mellett DSM, attended the Commissioning Ceremony of 67 Army Officers, 1 Air Corps Officers and 9 Maltese Officers at Dublin Castle on Tuesday, 04 February 2019. This is the first time since the commissioning of the first Cadet Class (1928 – 1919) that the ceremony was held outside the Curragh Camp.

The newly appointed officers completed a demanding 15 months intensive training and have taken up appointments as junior leaders in Óglaigh na hÉireann and the Armed Forces of Malta.  Commandant Stephan MacEoin was the Class Officer and Lieutenant-Colonel Gavin Young is the Cadet Master.

The Artillery Club extends sincere congratulations to the ten officers who were commissioned in February 2019, and appointed by Vice-Admiral Mark Mellett DSM to the Artillery Corps:

1 Artillery RegimentLt Joe Everett,, Lt Niamh Ní Ghoill,, 2/Lt Louise Horgan, 

2 Artillery Regiment:  Lt Aifric Gallagher,  Lt Richard Wann,  2/Lt Harry Dobson,  2/Lt Ruairi Ganley,  2/Lt Liam O’Brian,  2/Lt Meabh O’Brian,  2/Lt Gavin Smyth,

The newly commissioned Gunner Officers received their first salute from Regimental Sergeant-Major Mark Fitzsimons.  However, 2 Lt Conor Marlow received his first salute from his father Regimental Sergeant-Major Andrew Marlow, 2 Artillery Regiment.  Another proud father was Battery-Sergeant Gerry Setright, Artillery School, whose son Lt Jack Setright was also commissioned.

Likewise, the Artillery Club congratulates Lt Richard Wann, 2 Arty Regt, as the recipient of the Sergeant-Major Tony Scanlon Sword awarded to the Cadet who best promotes the Esprit de Corps of the Irish Defence Forces, its traditions and associations.

On 20 February, on the behalf of the Artillery Club, Brigadier-General Paul Pakenham wrote to all newly commissioned Gunner Officers, congratulating them on their appointment to the Artillery Corps, inviting them to become member of the Club and inviting them to the Decades’ Reunion on 11 September in The Military College.

Photographs by Paul Pakenham.  Click on a photograph for slide show