Rejection, when you think about it, rejecting me twice has been my gain. Sitting through those interviews, although brief, provided immense data. ​For instance, your female colleague who rose from her seated position, leaving my line of sight to unsettle me, senior or not, she separated herself from the ranger and the pencil pusher, becoming my means of egress. (2008/2009) #IrishArmy #IrishDefenceForces #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefendOurState #IrishMilitary

On Tuesday, the 127th Infantry Battalion arrived home to @dublinairport and were met by family and friends after a 6 month deployment in UNIFIL. Welcome home to all! #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefendOurState #IrishDefenceForces

On Tuesday, 26 MAY 26, the final chalk of the 127th Infantry Battalion arrived home following a challenging and demanding deployment with UNIFIL in South Lebanon. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefendOurState

Chalk 1 of the 127th Infantry Battalion has returned home, in the coming weeks, the mission of the 127th Infantry Battalion with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) draws to a close following a challenging and demanding deployment in South Lebanon. Throughout their deployment, the personnel of the 127th Infantry Battalion operated in an increasingly complex and volatile environment, carrying out their duties with professionalism, resilience and dedication. Despite the many challenges faced during the mission, the Battalion continued to uphold the highest standards of service while representing Ireland and Óglaigh na hÉireann with distinction on the international stage. The men and women of the 127th Infantry Battalion demonstrated exceptional commitment in the service of peace and stability, reflecting great credit on themselves, their families and the Defence Forces. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #UNIFIL #DefendOurState

On Thursday, 15 MAY 26, the first chalk of the 127th Infantry Battalion arrived home following a challenging and demanding deployment with UNIFIL in South Lebanon. Throughout their deployment, personnel of the 127th Infantry Battalion operated in a complex and volatile environment, displaying professionalism, resilience and courage while representing Ireland and Óglaigh na hÉireann with distinction. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefendOurState

Yesterday, Wednesday, 06 MAY 2026, the 102nd State Commemoration of the 1916 Rising took place at Arbour Hill. The ceremony at Arbour Hill first began in 1923, with the first State commemoration taking place in 1924. Since then, the ceremony has taken place annually at the Church of the Sacred Heart, the Church of the Defence Forces, which is collocated with the burial site of the executed leaders of 1916. President Catherine Connolly laid a wreath in solemn tribute to those who died for Irish freedom. The ceremony was attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, the Tánaiste Simon Harris, The Minister for Defence Helen McEntee, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, past and present members of the Defence Forces, members of Government, relatives of the 1916 leaders and relatives of others who fought in the Rising. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefendOurState

Check out the April monthly update from Óglaigh na hÉireann. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefendOurState #IrishDefenceForces

Óglaigh na hÉireann can confirm that an operation took place to transport key Battalion personnel to United Nations Post 2-45 and to return Communications Specialists who had been performing critical maintenance to communication systems and infrastructure. This was a joint operation in a volatile region, involving Army personnel of the 127th Infantry Battalion who conducted a patrol from UNP 2-45 to Beirut and the Air Corps flight crew of the C295 who performed the strategic air lift from Casement Aerodrome to Beirut. This operation demonstrates the strategic reach capability of the Air Corps, as well as the capabilities of our Army personnel employing force protection measures to enable operations in a conflict zone. #Irishdefenceforces #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefendOurState

Defence Forces Throwback Thursday In today's episode of our new Throwback Thursday series we are looking at a day on board L.E. ORLA in 1995 with the Irish Naval Service. #óglaighnahéireann #defendourstate #defendourstate

An Irish Army Officer at NATO SOF Command — Quiet Presence, Big Questions A photograph released by Allied Special Operations Forces Command @NATO_SOF — based at @SHAPE_NATO Headquarters — may be one of the more quietly revealing military images of the year. On the left stands Tony Turner (Major General), Deputy Commander of #SOFCOM and a senior officer from the @RoyalMarines. His presence is expected — Britain is a core @NATO member with deep special operations integration. But it’s the officer on the right who raises more interesting questions. A Neutral Nation Inside a #NATO #SOF Environment The name tape reads McDermott. The uniform: unmistakably Irish @defenceforces. Rank: Lieutenant Colonel. An Irish Army officer — in a NATO Special Operations command environment — during a St. Patrick’s Day event hosted inside one of NATO’s most sensitive military environments. Ireland is not a @NATO member. It maintains a long-standing policy of military neutrality. And yet, here is a senior Irish officer, present within the orbit of NATO’s special operations command. Partnership for Peace — The Official Framework Ireland’s relationship with NATO is formally governed by Partnership for Peace (PfP), which it joined in 1999. The stated purpose: • Enhance stability and security in Europe • Improve interoperability between partner and NATO forces • Support Ireland’s participation in UN and EU missions Irish officials consistently maintain that such engagement: remains fully consistent with Ireland’s policy of neutrality Publicly, Ireland’s presence in Brussels is represented by figures like Ray Murphy (Brigadier General), Ireland's Military Representative to the EU and NATO PfP — a visible, diplomatic-facing role. But this photograph suggests something more layered. Who is Lt Col McDermott? That’s where the trail becomes thin. There is: • No public biography • No official posting announcement • No clear record of prior assignments This is not unusual. Irish mid-to-senior officers in: • Special operations • Intelligence • International liaison roles are rarely profiled in detail. Ranger Wing? Intelligence? Liaison? What can be reasonably inferred is not identity — but function. Ireland’s special operations capability sits within the Army Ranger Wing (ARW), a unit known for: • Counter-terrorism • Intelligence • Special reconnaissance • Close cooperation with international partners Alongside this is Ireland’s evolving intelligence environment, now referred to as the Irish Military Intelligence Service (IMIS), formerly the Directorate of Military Intelligence (J2) until July 2025. These elements intersect during overseas deployments, particularly under: • EU missions • UN operations • PfP-linked engagements And crucially: They are the parts of the Irish @defenceforces most likely to interface with NATO SOF. Inside SOFCOM — Why This Matters Allied Special Operations Forces Command (formerly NSHQ) is not a routine headquarters. It is responsible for: • Coordinating NATO special operations • Developing interoperability between allied and partner SOF units • Integrating intelligence, planning, and operational doctrine Partner nations — including Ireland — may engage at this level. But such engagement is rarely visible. Neutrality vs Reality Ireland’s official position is clear: • It is militarily neutral • It does not belong to NATO • Its cooperation is limited to interoperability and peacekeeping support Yet images like this raise legitimate questions: • What level of access do Irish officers have inside NATO SOF environments? • Are roles purely observational — or operationally integrated? • Does “interoperability” now extend into intelligence and special operations planning spaces? A Quiet Signal The image itself is informal — a St. Patrick’s Day moment, a cultural nod inside a multinational command. But symbols matter. An Irish lieutenant colonel, standing alongside a senior Royal Marines MG, inside NATO’s Special Operations command headquarters, is not just a social snapshot. It is a glimpse — however small — into a relationship that is: • Real • Active • And only partially visible to the public For a country that defines its defence posture through neutrality, the presence of an Irish officer at the heart of NATO’s SOF command is not necessarily contradictory. But it is undeniably significant. And perhaps, for now, deliberately understated. @HMcEntee @GOCAirCorps @df_cos @defenceforces @dfprb @df_recruitment @2Cisar @Aiken_Barracks @irishpolbatt @3_Inf_Bn @28infantry @IrishAirCorps @naval_service @dfreserve @ecosantoir @dfarchives @2bdegoc @df_engineers @DF_Medics @armyequitatio @mckeecamp @CurraghMuseum @IRLDeptDefence @MichealMartinTD @SimonHarrisTD @OireachtasNews @kenoflynnTD @DFgaelic #óglaighnahéireann #defendourstate #defendourstate #ArmyCadetship #DefenceForces #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DistinguishedServiceMedal #BeMoreChill

Defence Forces Throwback Thursday In today's episode of our new Throwback Thursday series we are looking at Escort of Honour with the Cavalry in Aras an Uachtaràin 1995. #óglaighnahéireann #defendourstate #defendourstate

Last week, a ceremony was held at the Defence Forces Training Centre, The Curragh Camp, to mark the stand down of General Officer Commanding DFTC, Brigadier General McGuinness. Brig Gen McGuinness joined Óglaigh na hÉireann in December 1982 as a member of the 59th Cadet Class at the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare. He was commissioned in April 1984 as a Second Lieutenant to the 29 Infantry Battalion in Co. Monaghan. Throughout a distinguished career spanning more than four decades, Brig Gen McGuinness held a number of key appointments including Aide-de-Camp to Chief of Staff Lt Gen Dermot Early, Officer Commanding 7 Infantry Battalion in Dublin, Commandant of the Military College, and most recently General Officer Commanding of the Defence Forces Training Centre. He also served with distinction on several overseas missions including with UNIFIL in Lebanon, the OSCE in Bosnia, UNTSO in Lebanon, KFOR in Kosovo, and EUFOR in Bosnia. Brig Gen McGuinness holds a Bachelor of Arts from University College Galway and later completed a Master’s in Business and Executive Coaching. He played a leading role in developing and advancing the Defence Forces coaching and mentoring programme, supporting the professional development of personnel across the organisation. Outside of his military duties, Brig Gen McGuinness has been a strong supporter of Defence Forces sport, particularly basketball, where his enthusiasm and professionalism greatly benefited Defence Forces Basketball. Last week’s ceremony provided an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding service and contribution of Brig Gen McGuinness to Óglaigh na hÉireann. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #IrishDefenceForces #DefendOurState

Bí Níos Mó! #óglaighnahéireann #irishdefenceforces #defendourstate

This week, in recognition of International Women’s Day, members of Óglaigh na hÉireann and the Department of Defence came together for a special event highlighting the contribution, leadership and experiences of women across the organisations. Facilitated by the Defence Women’s Network, the event brought together personnel for a programme focused on civil military cooperation and the role of women in defence and public service. The event featured an opening address by Minister for Defence Helen McEntee TD, followed by opening remarks from Secretary General of the Department of Defence Jacqui McCrum and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy. Attendees also heard a career reflection from recently retired Lieutenant Colonel Geraldine Browne, while Noeline Blackwell delivered the guest address. The event concluded with a panel discussion exploring leadership, service and the continued advancement of women within the Defence Forces. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #InternationalWomensDay #DefendOurState

Families of serving personnel from Óglaigh na hÉireann gathered at Dublin Zoo this weekend for a special Defence Forces Family Day dedicated to supporting the families of those currently serving overseas. The event brought together children, partners and loved ones of deployed personnel for a day of activities, connection and community. Family days such as this recognise the vital role families play in supporting members of the Defence Forces while they serve the State both at home and overseas. While deployments can take personnel far from home, initiatives like this help ensure families remain connected, supported and part of the wider Defence Forces community. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefendOurState #IrishDefenceForces

Gavin Tobin served Ireland for nearly a decade. Yet since 1992—some 34 years—he says he has suffered from chronic fatigue, forced to live with the consequences of chemical exposure he believes occurred during his service in the Irish Air Corps @IrishAirCorps. In previous reporting, I have referred to what some veterans describe as the “3Ds.” According to Mr. Tobin, the phrase captures what he believes to be a deliberate strategy used to wear down those seeking justice. “Delay, deny, die,” he says. The phrase has become a rallying cry for members of the Air Corps Chemical Abuse Survivors group, which @GavinTobin now leads. It reflects their belief that governments and institutions sometimes rely on prolonged legal processes and resistance to claims to exhaust litigants over time. The slogan echoes the well-known expression “3Ds” — Delay, Deny, and Die. The phrase has been used in the United Kingdom to describe how government departments such as the Ministry of @DefenceHQ (“MoD”) and the Security Service (“MI5”) have aggressively sought to frustrate legitimate legal claims in the hope of reducing payouts. Like the British government more broadly, they are accusing the Irish government of systematically leveraging bureaucratic delays and legal obstacles to neutralize opponents — a policy he refers to as the “3Ds,” pursued in the expectation that the litigant ultimately dies. Mr. Tobin and other campaigners argue that similar tactics are being used in their own struggle for recognition and compensation. They claim that years of legal challenges, delays, and official resistance have left many former Air Corps personnel still seeking answers decades after their exposure. A recorded interview with Mr. Tobin, attached here, sheds further light on the issue and the experiences of those affected. Campaigners say the matter demands urgent political attention. Many veterans who served the country are now dealing with long-term health consequences and are calling on the government to address their cases as a national priority. Helen McEntee TD, if you had one ounce of honour and integrity, you would be reaching out to Mr. Tobin and the other victims who are suffering as a direct consequence of serving Ireland. As such, the buck stops with you and Micheál Martin TD. Do what needs to be done and put this right. @HMcEntee @GOCAirCorps @df_cos @defenceforces @dfprb @df_recruitment @2Cisar @Aiken_Barracks @irishpolbatt @3_Inf_Bn @28infantry @IrishAirCorps @naval_service @dfreserve @ecosantoir @dfarchives @GOCAirCorps @2bdegoc @df_engineers @DF_Medics @armyequitation @mckeecamp @CurraghMuseum @IRLDeptDefence @MichealMartinTD @SimonHarrisTD @OireachtasNews @kenoflynnTD @DFgaelic #óglaighnahéireann #defendourstate #defendourstate #ArmyCadetship #DefenceForces #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DistinguishedServiceMedal #BeMoreChill Extract of interview @LMFMRADIO

Defence Forces Throwback Thursday In today's episode of our new Throwback Thursday series we are looking at Cadet Riot Training from 2005! #óglaighnahéireann #defendourstate #defendourstate

Check out the February monthly update from Óglaigh na hÉireann. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefendOurState #IrishDefenceForces

Check out the January monthly update from Óglaigh na hÉireann. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefendOurState #IrishDefenceForces

The Irish Defence Forces Podcast is back. New voices, new stories. Episode one: EOD specialists at Exercise Northern Challenge in Iceland, showcasing elite skills and international cooperation. open.spotify.com/episode/1wt… #ÓglaighnahÉireann #IrishDefenceForces #DefendOurState