News for veterans all over Ireland and the world.
Here we will have news of upcoming events, parades, meetings and so on. This page will be of most interest to those that are not able to attend our monthly executive meetings in Dublin.
NEWSFLASH; Names are now been taken for a return trip to Cyprus, Lebanon and the Sinai in Sept/Oct 2010. Please contact me for details on calco63@gmail.com or ring me on 086-3830885.
The following is a letter I recieved from Farah Ahmed Mohamed Arke, a Lebanese citizen now living in the United Arab Emirates.
Hello Mr. Callanan
My name is Farah, and I don't know how I stumbled into a website which showed pictures of you and your friends serving in the Irish Battlion in the UNIFIL in South Lebanon, if I'm not mistaken?
I'm really fascinated by these pictures, they were really touching, to see these photos that were taken at a difficult time for Lebanon, and it's really refreshing to see how compassionate people are since the UNIFIL is made up of foreigners, you and your friends and other UNIFIL soldiers from different countries risked their lives to protect Lebanon, even though you you had no ties to Lebanon but still you spent years showing bravery and kindess in the face of brutality. I just want to send this email to tell you how much I admire your honour and your noble work done for us Lebanese people, forever grateful !
Best wishes to you sir
Farah
It's letters and kind words like the above which put a bit of pride back into our hearts, and makes us say to ourselves once again, that, yes. We did make a difference.
Post 31 IUNVA members attended the book launch of "VIETNAM An Irish Experience" in Enniscorthy on Tuesday 3rd March 2009. The book detailed the experiences of the Irish that fought in Vietnam with the Australian and American forces. Two of our members Edward Somers (Hon) and John Hawkins both feature prominantly in the book. Both served with the 1sr and 3rd Royal Australian Regiments. Anyone wanting details on ordering the book can contact me.
The AGM of Post 31 took place at the end of January 2009. Officers elected were as follows.
Chairman; Michael O' Neill.
Vice Chairman; Ger Deveraux.
Secretary; Colm Callanan.
Asst. Secretary; Eddie Doyle.
Treasurer; Joe McGrath.
Asst. Treasurer; Gerard Furlong.
Welfare Officer; Eddie Doyle.
PRO; Bill Cahill.
The following dates should be noted by you as regards IUNVA events around the country.
Post 31 - IUNVA would like to express our deepest condolences to the comrades and families of Cengiz Azimkar, 21, from London, and Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham. who were killed on Saturday night at the Massareene Base in Northern Ireland. They were both supposed to depart Sunday for Afghanistan. Also our best wishes and prayers for a full recovery of the other two soldiers and two civilians wounded in the attack.
We remember them both as we do all those who passed on recently.
RETURN TO LEBANON; The Irish Army story. 19th/28th October 2009. €1,450
THE STORY OF THE HOLOCAUST; World War 2. 8th/12th June 2009 €800
STORY OF THE NORMANDY LANDINGS; World War 2. 24th/28th June 2009 €800
JOURNEY OF REMEMBERANCE TO THE WESTERN FRONT; 6th/13th July 2009 €820
IRISH REGIMENTS AT GALLIPOLI; World War 1. 21st/29th September 2009 €1,300
Other news;
We will have information about a special DVD on Lebanon in our next newsletter.
I will be flying to UN HQ in New York in May 2009 and meeting up with personnel there with regards to our memorial which we are planning to have built next year. More details to follow.
Any members travelling to Cyprus this summer please contact me for details of the RBL in Limassol where you will be assured of a fine welcome during your visit there.
Any member that has any news that they feel would be of interest to the group can email me details at mailto:calco63@gmail.com
Yours in Peace...... Colm Callanan (Hon-Sec Post 31 IUNVA)
