At the RDF meeting in Columb Barracks were, (back from left) Lt Robert Duncan, Lt Paul Daly, Lt Liam Creegan, Capt Brian Roynane and Capt John Duffy, QM HQ 54 RAR; (third row) Lt Niall McKenna, Capt Michael Cummins BC 3 Gun Bty, Lt Peter Corcoran and Capt Niall Murphy; (second row) Capt Aidan Farrell Adjt 54 RAR, Comdt John Brennan BTC, Comdt Niall Verling OC 54 RAR, Comdt Denis Horan, 2 ic, 54 RAR, Comdt Denis Cronin, Capt Martin McCormack BC HQ Bty 54 RAR; and Capt Eamon Staunton; (front) Comdt Danny Riordan, Comdt Seamus Brennan, Comdt John Kenny, Comdt Donal Byrne, Comdt John Mills, Captain Lar Keena, Comdt Christy Neary.

Hundreds of years of military experience congregated in the Officers' Mess at Columb Barracks last Friday evening for a reunion with added poignancy.

The meeting of Reserve Defence Force commissioned officers who have served out of Columb Barracks is the last time they will meet in the facility before it closes at the end of this month.

The attendees' RDF careers span 70-plus years; Capt Lar Keena, the oldest serving officer, joined the forerunner of the RDF, the Local Defence Forces, in the late 1950s.

Among those that attended the bittersweet get-together were officers from the 4FAR (FCA), the 9FAR (FCA) and the current 54th Field Reserve Artillery Regiment (RAR).