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| Reference |
DOD/3/63869
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| Title |
Ceremonial: Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Defence Forces
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| Scope and Content |
File contains copy letter from the Chief of Staff, Major General T.L. O'Carroll to the Minister for Defence , Mr. Jerry Cronin, T.D., requesting inter alia a "suitable ceremonial to commemorate the inuaguration of the Defence Forces". The Chief of Staff proposed the most suitable date as 15 July 1972-"the 50th anniversary of the date in 1922 when the first soldier was enlisted in the Army". The date suggested is not in conformity with the "establishment" of the Defence Forces as set out in The Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Acts, 1923 and 1924. The Chief of Staff again raised the matter in March 1973 and proposed that 1974 be observed as the "Jubilee Year for Army celebration, having regard to the formal establishment of the Defence Forces as from 1 October 1924". The then Minister for Defence, Mr Patrick S. Donegan, T.D., rejected this proposal. File also contains copy memorandum dealing with research into a Government decision of 8 October, 1963 to erect a commemorative plaque at a selected spot on the Old Rotunda premises to mark the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Irish Volunteers (from file 3/43433), extracts from Dail Debates dealing with "commemorations", copy press report (Irish Press dated 1 October 1973), copy Government Information Service statement setting aside St Patricks Day (1974) as a Day of National Commemoration, representations from an Old IRA veteran and a letter from the Officer in Charge of 'A' Administration of the Defence Forces, Lt Col J. Beary regarding a proposal to have a "Permanent Flame" introduced at the memorial in Arbour Hill and other material.
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