John O'Sullivan

📍Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry, under the stars 🌌 🇮🇪 This picture was from the pre-dawn hours of this morning. Taken from a high vantage point, looking down to Derrynane Harbour and beyond 🏞️🌊 📸 Rodger Stanger Photography #Kerry #Ireland #Astronomy #Caherdaniel #Derrynane #Stars

Nike’s ad for Rory McIlroy’s back-to-back wins at the Masters.

The Defence Forces are aware of images circulating of MOWAG Armoured Personnel Carriers in convoy. We can confirm that these are the personnel of the 128th Infantry Battalion conducting mission readiness exercises ahead of deployment to UNIFIL next month. Mission Readiness Exercises are critical activities to train and prepare our personnel for conducting duties in Southern Lebanon.

The Irish Defence Forces can confirm that all Irish personnel are well and accounted for. We wish to extend our sympathies to the families of the peacekeepers who lost their lives in the service of peace. Our thoughts are also with those injured in the attack. Óglaigh na hÉireann reaffirms our condemnation of any attack on peacekeepers and reminds all parties of their responsibilities under international law and echo UNIFIL's statement found here: t.me/UNIFIL_Lebanon…

Óglaigh na hÉireann can confirm that a Polish member of IRISHPOLBATT has sustained minor injuries after their patrol was targeted by a roadside device which detonated as their vehicle passed it. Irish personnel of the Quick Reaction Force were launched immediately to secure the scene and the casualty was evacuated to UNP 2-45. The casualty was then brought from UNP 2-45 to a medical facility using the Irish armoured ambulance and medics. This incident highlights the professionalism, preparedness and training of our Army personnel deployed to UNIFIL, who continue to operate in a volatile region. All Irish personnel are well and accounted for. The Irish Defence Forces remains resolute in its commitment to UNIFIL and acting as the eyes and ears of the international community as the conflict continues.

A very happy St. Patrick’s Day from all of Óglaigh na hÉireann’s troops currently deployed overseas.

How do you stop a defender who scores like a forward? Opposition managers spent the winter trying to figure it out — and Tom O’Sullivan just kept delivering. Now he is crowned @AIB_GAA Footballer of the Year and deservedly so!

Minister for Defence, @HMcEntee, has secured Cabinet approval for the establishment of a Defence Attaché network. Read more: gov.ie/en/department-…

@AdamMoynihan Different class

Was that David Clifford's first ever outside-of-the-boot score for Kerry? I can't recall another. It was a two-pointer from the terrace side and, yes, it was as spectacular as it sounds. (As I type this, he fires home a goal. 1-2 off the bench. Worth the admission fee.)

1/ Irish Army Rangers & Green berets from the US Army's 3rd Special Forces Group training together during the Special Forces Advance Urban Combat (SFAUC) course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina last week.

Tom Sullivan doing Tom Sullivan things. Via: Kerry Franchise on IG @kerry_franchise_

Hell of a win. 👊

Ireland's Under-20s tore up the script at Bath’s Recreation Ground, delivering a thunderous 31-21 Six Nations Championship victory over England that felt every inch a statement. rte.ie/sport/rugby/20…

Today, the Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee TD, presented Distinguished Service Medals (DSMs) to members of Óglaigh na hÉireann at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa Barracks (Mellows Barracks), Co. Galway. The medals were awarded to Private Dylan Geraghty (with Honours), Corporal Daniel Padden (with Distinction), Private Ciara Shanahan (with Merit) and Father Paul Murphy (with Merit), in recognition of their courageous actions during and after the incident at Renmore Barracks on 15 August 2024. Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy said: “The awarding of Distinguished Service Medals to these four members of Óglaigh na hÉireann is a fitting and well deserved recognition of their courage, professionalism and moral resolve in the face of a violent attack on Father Paul Murphy. Their actions exemplify the very highest standards of Óglaigh na hÉireann. In a moment of extreme danger, they acted decisively, selflessly and with complete regard for the protection of life. This outcome is a direct reflection of the rigorous training, discipline and values instilled in our personnel throughout their careers. I am immensely proud of these soldiers. Their conduct brings great pride to their unit, An Chéad Chathlán Coisithe (The 1st Infantry Battalion), and to the Defence Forces as a whole, and it reinforces the trust placed in us by the people we serve”. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefenceForces #DistinguishedServiceMedal

Precision. Leadership. Expertise. This week the 81mm LBLM Mortar Instructor Course held a shoot in the Glen of Imaal, Co. Wicklow. Building capability through professionalism, competence and teamwork. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefenceForces #MilitaryTraining

This sand painting by "Manu" of the St. Brigid Cross is absolutely spectacular ☘️💚 📍 Bridies' Beach near Clonea, Co. Waterford 🏖️💚🇮🇪 📸 Manu (FB) @TinkerCunt_ #Waterford #Ireland #StBrigidsDay #BrigidCross

Epic stuff An Daingean Abú

Major General John Whittaker has been appointed as the new Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) by the Minister of Defence and Government. In this role, Major General Whittaker will be responsible for the fighting efficiency, training, organisation, equipment distribution and operational planning functions of Óglaigh na hÉireann. Major General Whittaker is a professional Infantry and Special Forces officer with over 39 years’ experience in a wide variety of appointments overseas and at home, where he is currently serving as the Director of Training and Education. In this role, Major General Whittaker was responsible for the development of training policy in accordance with current doctrine, the coordination of all training and education across the Defence Forces, and monitoring standards achieved in order to ensure the highest levels of operational capability, efficiency and effectiveness. Major General Whittaker was appointed as the Director of Training and Education in July 2024 and previously has served as the Director of Public Relations, Director of Transport and the Commandant of the Military College, in addition to the Commanding Officer of 6th Infantry Battalion in Custume Barracks, Athlone. Overseas, Major General Whittaker has served as the Deputy Commander of Sector West in UNIFIL, as well as the Senior Irish Officer to the EU Training Mission in Mali and to Kosovo with KFOR. Major General Whittaker's overseas deployments also include 4 deployments to South Lebanon with UNIFIL, an Army Ranger Wing deployment to East Timor with INTERFET and as the Commander of Ireland's first EU Battlegroup, the EU-NORDIC BG. Major General Whittaker is a graduate of the Irish Command and Staff School and holds post graduate qualifications of a Masters of Arts in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies from Maynooth University, a Masters of Science in Human Resource Leadership from Sheffield Hallam University and an Advanced Diploma in Leadership and Executive Coaching from Kingstown College. Major General Whittaker is a native of Co. Cork and is married to Catherine and they have two children; Eoin and Cian. They now live now in Connemara, Co. Galway.

The NS Fleet has been exercising their Gunnery skills over the past few weeks. LÉ WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS, LÉ GEORGE BERNARD SHAW and LÉ AOIBHINN over the course of their Maritime Defence and Security Operations patrol took the opportunity to exercise the ship's weapons systems.

Samaritans ☎️116123 Childline ☎️1800666666 Women's Aid ☎️1800341900 Aware ☎️1800804848 Men's Aid ☎️015543811 Dublin Rape Crisis ☎️1800778 888 Bodywhys ☎️1890 200 444 Pieta House ☎️1800 247 247 AA ☎️1800 459 459 Gamblers Anonymous ☎️01 872 1133 Nollaig Shona…🎄