IDFOC
@_IDFOC
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Enabling current and former officers of the Irish Defence Forces to connect for mutual benefit, support and friendship. RT is not an endorsement.
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"Senior officers feel Harris is treating the military as a scapegoat, while the judge who actually gave Crotty a suspended sentence largely escapes political criticism."
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"Michael Tighe, one of the last surviving veterans of the Irish Army’s biggest battle at the Siege of Jadotville in the Congo has passed away." RIP.
Michael Tighe, one of the last surviving veterans of 1961 Siege of Jadotville dies aged 83
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63
315
"Unfortunately, things are even worse up in the skies. Ireland has no combat jets, and it’s the only country in Europe that can’t monitor its own airspace due to the lack of primary radar systems."
Ireland’s the ultimate defense freeloader
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50
221
"The first batch of donated Irish military vehicles arrives in Poland on Friday – ahead of its final delivery to Ukraine."
Irish military vehicles destined for Ukraine arrive in Poland
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29
168
"Tanaiste Micheal Martin has defended the decision to allow Irish soldiers to provide basic rifle training to Ukrainian soldiers as non-lethal aid, arguing it is “humanitarian to defend your people”."
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25
162
"The 27th Infantry Battalion team placed second in the Best International Team category and 11th overall, with the ARW team placing 16th out of 35 of the best Sniper teams from around the world."
6
23
134
Senator
@malcolmbyrne
proposes a Bill banning the use of the term “Oglaigh na hEireann”, the official title of the Irish Defence Forces, to refer to anything other than the army, air corps and navy.
@DefenceIreland
@slandail_nssi
@ARCOIreland
@RACO_DF
15
16
131
Varadkar told RTE radio. "I don't see us applying to join NATO, but I do see us getting more involved in European defence."
Neutral Ireland likely to get more involved in EU defence policy - Deputy PM
24
32
127
"Democracy has a cost, freedom has a price, it doesn’t come easily, and it doesn’t come for nothing."
We are facing a second battle for Europe, says historian of D-Day Irish
54
38
127
"The Irish Air Corps has been deployed to help put out a huge gorse fire in Northern Ireland."
Irish Air Corps deployed to tackle Antrim gorse fire via
@rte
9
23
124
"Mr Martin said he has instructed the Department of Defence to prepare legislation removing the requirement for UN approval."
Ireland to scrap Triple Lock preventing Irish troops from deployment without UN approval - Tánaiste
23
19
123
"The head of the Defence Forces, Lieut Gen Seán Clancy, has been elected as the next chair of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC), the highest military body within the union." Comhgairdeas leis.
22
22
122
“It’s important that the Irish public are aware that their country is practically defenceless. Gambling on our future is rarely a sound basis for good policy.”
Ireland is equivalent of house without intruder alarm, warns ex-Army Ranger
16
36
121
Statement from
@BerryCathal
re Cathal Brugha Barracks "The asset stripping of the
@defenceforces
premises by successive governments must stop."
3
18
118
"Cathal Berry TD (Ind), who is a qualified doctor and former member of the Defence Forces’ Army Ranger Wing, is part of the Irish group, which has been in Ukraine for the last week, including spending some time in Kyiv."
5
24
115
“For the past fortnight, a team of Defence Forces engineers have been training 16 Ukrainian military personnel, who are also army engineers, in the use of the mine flails, which have now been moved into the warzone for immediate use,” Colonel Damian McEvoy
22
32
106
"A database of more than 31,380 people who died in the first World War from what is now the Republic of Ireland has gone live for Armistice Day."
Database of people from Republic who died in first World War released via
@IrishTimes
@OneFuchsia
@RBL_Ireland
1
26
103
"We've got two ministers for education, and no standalone defence minister. The budget is €1.25 billion for 2024 for defence, which is the lowest in Europe."
'Entirely true' that Ireland is freeloading on European defence, TD says via
@breakingnewsie
8
26
98
"Questions are being asked about why the State will not honour an Irish soldier who died heroically saving 11 of his comrades in Lebanon while another hero buried less than 100 metres from him has been honoured by the US."
8
20
94
"Here we are two years after the Commission into the Future of the Defence Forces issued its report and we are miles away from being able to defend ourselves."
Ireland 'still British colony' when it comes to defence says TD
10
23
90
"Declan Power said Ireland needed to step up to ensure its best young recruits and even serving members of the Defence Forces were not lost to the British forces."
Startling rise in Irish joining British Army ranks as 930 enlist for UK forces
11
26
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“I have never felt such pride as the pride I have felt for being part of this operation, and it is the same for the lads who drove those vehicles out there – if they end up saving just one Ukrainian soldier I will be delighted.”
Great read here 👇
20
18
84
He said: “Ireland does not do defence. It is going to take a massive tragedy for the Government to wake up."
Ireland will face massive tragedy before national security taken seriously, TD warns
@BerryCathal
@GCraughwell
@RACO_DF
@NoelO832597
@ARCOIreland
9
12
81
Tragic news from Spain. Thinking of his family at this time. Go dtuga Dia solas na bhFlaitheas dó.
Serving member of Defence Forces dies in parachuting incident in Spain – The Irish Times
5
7
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“I bring a Tricolour with me to plant there, because the four of them were in the Defence Forces and they died in service for the Irish people.”
The crash of Rescue 111: ‘The worst silence I ever heard in all my life’ via
@IrishTimesLife
0
10
77
"The Defence Forces have teamed up with scientists to develop a new drone capable of policing the huge Irish offshore even when the weather is dire."
Irish drone set to make life harder for drug smugglers
3
11
77
"Appointment to the leading role at the UN headquarters is seen as a major honour for the
@defenceforces
and followed stiff competition for the post."
Ireland’s first female army general gets senior post in UN headquarters in New York
@BerryCathal
1
13
72
Comhghairdeas
@DF_COS
agus beir bua.
@DF_Sgt_Major
@DFPRB
@RACO_DF
@ARCOIreland
@pdforra
@OneFuchsia
@RDFRepAssoc
@IRLDeptDefence
@DefenceIreland
@slandail_nssi
@BerryCathal
@GCraughwell
@nealerichmond
@simoncoveney
@MccrumJacqui
@CharlieFlanagan
@DFPRB
2
8
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"A YOUNG pilot in the Air Corp has told how he will be left with a pension of just €25,000 a year when he retires after almost 50 years of service to his country."
I joined Army at 20 - if I serve 50 years I'll only get €25k pension to live on
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17
68
Irish Army Rangers go to Afghanistan | Morning Ireland - RTÉ Radio 1
3
16
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"All Defence Forces members are to get access to private healthcare."
Defence Forces members to get private healthcare access via
@rte
12
10
71
“This reorg is different,” he says. “This is something not seen in our lifetime.”
‘The ship is turning. I have never been more optimistic than I am today,’ says most senior Defence Forces officer
12
23
71
Watch this video: The world’s best sniper teams go head-to-head in the Wicklow Mountains
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18
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"The Naval Service was unable to join an operation to take on international drug smugglers because of Ireland’s controversial triple lock military policy, the Tánaiste has revealed."
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"The admiral said it was essential for countries like Ireland to have the will, capability and readiness to deter threats regardless of whether they were neutral."
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15
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"What's interesting for us though is the only reason why we know there was a Russian submarine in our waters is because our European partners choose to tell us".
Russian submarine in Irish waters 'a real threat' - Clonan via
@NewstalkFM
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“What did we do except say ‘we can’t do anything about it’? We really showed our nakedness in terms of our capacity to respond... we are probably the most vulnerable state in the 27 members.”
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16
63
"Six months after his tragic death, Sean's Unit, the second Cavalry Squadron, paid a visit to mum Natasha's home in Newtoncunningham on a cavalcade of motorcycles."
Army's home tribute to Sean Rooney as mum says son 'forever making me proud'
3
8
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The price tag for such a purchase could be as much as €300 million and Micheál Martin said the Government remains “totally committed” to the project.
“Delivery of primary radar is extremely complex and will take some time to deliver."
29
8
62
Defence expert and former Irish ranger
@BerryCathal
branded the navy personnel crisis “a national security issue". "The problem is that a ship is only as good as its crew. Unfortunately 2022 has been a bad year... There has been a net loss of 100 sailors."
5
14
63
Abbi Stafford, 21, and Lauren Dunne, 22, have been friends for 15 years - and now share a room at the Irish base in Lebanon.
Offaly women in the Irish Army on what Christmas serving away from home involves
1
9
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"Our military has been let down by successive Governments for decades. They use our neutrality as an excuse not to spend real money on defence."
John Kierans : Ireland's lack of military might just cannot be defended
1
12
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1/2 See where the world's highest capacity undersea cable runs👇
@RACO_DF
@ARCOIreland
@BerryCathal
@GCraughwell
@CharlieFlanagan
@SorcaClarke_TD
@MarkWall1
@lichamber
@diarmuid_wilson
@DavidBa8976
@Edward__Burke
@McNamara_Eoin
@RobGilbey
@ConorGallaghe_r
@CormacJOKeeffe
9
23
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"For Irish peacekeepers, service in South Lebanon, a region marked by conflict and religious, cultural and geopolitical complexity, is a rite of passage. For many, it is here that they complete their first tour and earn their first medal." Good read 👇
0
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"Today the Air Corps and Óglaigh na hÉireann have lost a fine colleague and a better friend. All of us in Óglaigh na hÉireann extend our deepest sympathies to the family and the friends of Lt Sheeran." Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
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"The Irish soldiers – members of the elite Ranger Wing – were out on patrol when the attack was launched, although several of their German colleagues were injured, three seriously."
Irish troops serving in Mali narrowly dodge al qaeda suicide bomb attack
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Walter Hegarty: "When I look back I realise how tough it was, but then I was delighted when I joined up. I had left a job as a part-time postal worker to get a job with a regular income, uniform, food and lodgings provided." 'Siege at Jadotville' Declan Power
#medalsforjadotville
3
10
58
"Ireland is outsourcing a significant amount of foreign policy thanks to the ‘triple lock’ policy,
@BerryCathal
has warned."
“Ireland is outsourcing a significant amount of foreign policy thanks to the ‘triple lock’ policy, Cathal Berry…”
10
6
59
“With a distinguished career in the Defence Forces, Liam has served as a senior officer within the Army Ranger Wing since 2017 and has held various leadership positions both at home and overseas."
Liam Feeley is new CEO of Mountaineering Ireland
1
12
58
"A request for Mr Barry’s remains to be carried into St Macartan’s Cathedral last weekend draped in the tricolour was declined."
11
18
57
"Decades of neglect and underinvestment in defence are now clear to see with every unit of the Defence Forces under-strength."
Defence Forces – decades of neglect
2
22
56
"There are calls for an air policing unit to be established in Ireland. Kildare South TD Cathal Berry is behind the push, and says it's appropriate a neighbouring country cover our airspace until we can set up our own service."
@BerryCathal
2
18
56
1/18 During the firefighting season of 2018, the
@IrishAirCorps
dropped thousands of tons of water on fires throughout Ireland. Each drop involved lifting over 1000kg out of a water source, flying at very low level in turbulence and smoke, often in mountainous areas.
@kevpipps
4
11
52
"The call from FG Laois Offaly TD Charlie Flanagan... was backed by former Army Ranger and Kildare independent TD Cathal Berry, who said Ireland had two education ministers and two finance ministers but no defence minister."
0
14
56
"The Government has accepted recommendations from the Commission on the Defence Forces to acquire a “balanced” fleet of nine ships, with two crews per ship to ensure the maximum number are at sea at any one time."
10
11
55
"The Irish Sun has learned a Russian KA-52 Alligator helicopter carried out a fly-over at the Irish UN camp in Syria last week in a move branded “clear intimidation”."
Irish soldiers threatened with Russian 'flying tanks' in Middle East
12
13
55
Good read here about the international sniper competition 👉
Dundalk's 27th Infantry Battalion take part in International Sniper Competition 2023 - Louth Live
0
7
55
Solas na bhFlaitheas dá anam.
#OnThisDay
1986 Lt. Aengus Murphy, 25 from Tuam was killed & two other Irish UN Peacekeepers wounded by a remote controlled bomb when patrolling a road near the village of Tireh, Lebanon. Murphy is one of 47 Irish peacekeepers to have lost their life in Lebanon
#Ireland
#History
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832
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However,
@BerryCathal
, an independent TD and former Army Ranger in the Defence Forces, said Ireland would be unable to enforce the no-fly zone.
“We can’t, we are not physically able to do it,” Berry said.
@RACO_DF
@ARCOIreland
@RDFRepAssoc
3
15
55
Neutrality comes with obligations👇🏻
“By definition we’re not a neutral country, whether we claim to be or not”
-
@BerryCathal
on Ireland's neutrality
#TonightVMTV
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39
188
1
12
52
"If the Government is prepared to deploy Defence Force personnel overseas, often into high-risk areas, then they should provide the means to extract them if necessary."
Defence policy in a changing world
0
13
53
"Mr O’Brien is a former member of the Air Corps and worked as an aviation engineer." RIP
Kilkenny man drowns in Norway while deep sea diving
9
9
54
"This is the first time that a team representing Oglaigh na hEireann have claimed the top prize in this competition, with Ireland participating for the first time in 2011."
2
12
53
"As a way of preparing for whatever might happen next around the world, we are asking our readers if Ireland should ready herself now and consider introducing compulsory national service for all 18-24 year-olds."
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"The leader of the Green Party, Eamon Ryan, has emphasized the need for investment in Ireland's Naval Service to ensure the country can effectively patrol the Atlantic, similar to Russia's capabilities."
16
7
52
“The Garda Síochána that were with us on board the vessel with us when we were firing upon the big ship, they were paid multiples, multiples of allowances that we were paid,” he said.
3
12
53
"The current European war waged by Russia shows that boundaries will not stop an aggressor intent on expansion of influence."
9
9
52
"The committee and members of Clara Town FC extended their ''deepest and heartfelt sympathy'' to the family and friends of Comdt O'Reilly."
Sympathy extended to family of Offaly member of defence forces
0
6
52
"Let's remember, Russia has threatened Ireland as a member of the European Union for slapping sanctions on the Kremlin, and they could become very, very aggressive to Ireland."
@BerryCathal
Ukraine war forces Ireland to question its traditional neutrality
4
15
51
"I also very much welcome the recent pay increase for ARW personnel too, and it’s no more than they deserve."
Kildare TD and former soldier welcomes changes to Army Ranger Wing
4
9
52
"Government sources have indicated that Ministers are prepared to go half way and invest another €1bn — bringing the annual spend to €2bn."
Govt to double Defence Forces budget to militarily protect our neutrality
@GCraughwell
@BerryCathal
3
14
49
"Commanding Officer Lt Col Shane Rockett said: “For 50 years, soldiers from the 28th Infantry Battalion have proudly and loyally given their service to the State."
County Donegal’s Finner Camp celebrates a special 50 years
2
10
51
BERNIE Kelly is a mould breaker who has burst through the glass ceiling since she joined the Irish Army almost 40 years ago.
2
5
50
"The era of military neutrality for nations like Ireland is “over” and significant investment in the Defence Forces will be required if the State wants to defend itself from changing threats, Finland’s senior defence official has said."
1
9
46
"During the war, the Army had two divisions, two independent brigades and three command (ie garrison) battalions – 40,000 in all, and probably 100,000 in the Local Defence Force."
Ireland’s defence in second World War – The Irish Times
6
11
50
"Are we a serious State that ought to be defended? Do we need a national defence and security policy as well as a coherent foreign policy?"
If we are not prepared to defend ourselves we should outsource our security
@ARCOIreland
@RACO_DF
1
10
50
“As a small country of 5 million people, no matter how much we spent on our Defence Forces or our Navy, we wouldn’t be able to do this on our own,” Varadkar said. "It’s a very real issue for us. It’s not a theoretical one.”
22
7
49
"ULTIMATE Hell Week chief Ray Goggins told how joining the army as a young lad saved him from potentially going down a bad path."
I'm no angel but Army kept me on the straight & narrow, RTE show favourite says
2
8
48
"The Defence Forces will no longer train officer cadets from Malta due to staffing pressures, ending a 14-year arrangement."
Defence Forces to cease training Maltese officers due to staffing crisis
4
14
48
"Ireland received its second Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) on 16 October which follows the delivery of the first aircraft in June as part of a €230 million (US$243 million) order placed in December 2019."
2
4
48
“While the rest of Europe is scaling up, we’re in freefall.... We are on a very dangerous and reckless trajectory. We have no idea what way this conflict in Ukraine is going to play out."
@BerryCathal
2
10
47
1/2 "Flanagan said that on visits to Naval, Air Corps and army bases he and his colleagues noticed the impact of “chronic underfunding” and poor equipment and “staff morale was at the lowest in the history of the State”.
6
14
47
"It is perhaps unsurprising that the ranks of our Defence Forces are depleted and morale low when you consider the Taoiseach’s criticism of their handling of the Crotty case."
Crotty case and the Defence Forces
7
4
48
"The Government has spent nearly €1 million on reports into the Defence Forces in the last six years, new figures have shown."
Nearly €1m spent by Government on reports into Defence Forces
8
14
47
"The
@IRLDeptDefence
has confirmed that it is currently exploring the possibility of purchasing two New Zealand navy ships to be used for fisheries protection duties in the Irish Sea."
5
11
46
"Deputy Berry said the Defence Forces cannot change the law, that only politicians can change the law. He argued that the Defence Forces need regulatory changes, specifically powers for suspension and dismissal for gross misconduct...."
1
10
47
"Cathal Berry TD (Ind), a former head of the Army Ranger Wing, said the planned arrangement involving Ms Coxon was “far from ideal”."
Senior Garda intelligence and security role set to be filled by Canadian officer
10
7
47
"Pic of Day: Members of the Irish Defence Forces Bomb Disposal Team prepare to enter a building on Little Britain Street in Dublin after an explosion resulted in the death of one individual. Photo by Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie."
Suiting Up via
@IrishEcho
0
11
46
“I’m proud to be in the Irish Defence Forces, and I’d like that to be matched up with citizenship.”
‘I’m proud to be in the Irish Defence Forces – I’d like that to be matched up with citizenship’ via
@IrishTimes
@RACO_DF
@BerryCathal
@ARCOIreland
@donlav
0
10
46
NATO puts Defence Forces artillery through its paces in North Cork "The evaluation of 1 Brigade Artillery Regiment (1 BAR) of Óglaigh na hÉireann/Irish Defence Forces is the latest in a series of similar exercises..."
1
4
42
“[It’s] the same [reason] why Irish diplomats must be Irish citizens,” he said.
'Just not good enough' - Call for Garda intelligence job to given to Irish citizen via
@NewstalkFM
4
9
45
"Kelleher also has strong views on Russia and their current tactics in Europe following their Ukraine invasion. He wants to see more investment in Ireland's defence forces, particularly the Irish Navy."
@BillyKelleherEU
17
8
46
1/2 Former Army Ranger turned TD
@CathalBerry
told the
@IrishSunOnline
: “The big problem is that the
@DefenceForces
have been wound down so much over the last ten years...
"Army unable to police quarantine hotels due to chronic lack of investment"
2
8
46
“I’ve thought for a long time that we maintain this incredible pretence that we are militarily neutral when in reality we’ve never been neutral" Prof John Brennan, Maynooth University
Ireland is 'essentially a proxy of NATO' via
@NewstalkFM
7
6
45
“To this day Ireland and tiny Malta remain the only two of 27 European Union countries without a dedicated defence minister."
@BerryCathal
Ireland needs full-time Minister for Defence in light of war in Ukraine - Kildare TD
@RACO_DF
@ARCOIreland
@pdforra
0
9
44
"We haven't got here as a result of a policy decision, we have got here because of policy indecision."
@BerryCathal
Independent TD
@BerryCathal
outlines the hypocrisies of Irish neutrality and the "indecision" that has formulated this policy
Rebroadcast tonight at 22:00 on the RTÉ News channel and at 23:30 on
@rteone
#rtetwip
#rtepolitics
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Ansoumane Firkins, aged 24, was born in the Czech Republic to parents who came from Guinea, West Africa... was in the latest batch of Naval Service recruits who have just passed out, which included sailors born in Brazil, Latvia, Romania, and Croatia.
0
7
45