Under the auspices of the Artillery School, the Corps Annual Concentration took place in Glen Imaal between 07 and 10 November. Both the 1 Artillery Regiment and 2 Artillery Regiment participated in the training event. The 1 Artillery Regiment deployed a 105 Battery at the Pond Field with gunners from both Regiments on a Gunnery Course. The 2 Artillery Regiment was deployed with a Battery of 105s at Colliga and a Battery of 120s at Coan. The observers were drawn from both the School and Regiments attending a nine week Observers Course in the Artillery School.
Colonel Conor Fitzsimons returned from service as Military Adviser in the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations in New York, prior to his retirement taking place on 30 November 2016 after a long and distinguished career.
To mark his retirement, in the company of serving and retired gunners of all ranks, Colonel Fitzsimons fired his “Last Round” on Tuesday, 08 of November after a long and distinguished career serving the State and the Defence Forces both at home and overseas. The Number 1 on the gun was Corporal Eivers from the 2 Artillery Regiment.
Commissioned into the Artillery Corps, Colonel Fitzsimons distinguished career in the service of Óglaigh na hÉireann included appointments in the 2 Field Artillery Regiment, 4 Field Artillery Regiment, 5 Field Artillery Regiment (FCA), 7 Field Artillery Regiment (FCA), The Artillery School and Defence Forces Headquarters. His impressive overseas service included tours of duty with UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNPROFOR, ONUCI and ISAF. In addition to serving in New York, Colonel Fitzsimons also served as Assistant Military Representative in Brussels.
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