ONE long-service medals presented to local trio

Three members of the Mullingar branch of the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) were presented with 25-year service medals at a special ceremony in the Greville Arms Hotel on Sunday week last. Christy McKenna of ONE, told the Westmeath Examiner that the medals recognise 25 years of unbroken service to the organisation.

The recipients at Sunday’s presentation were Thomas Gunne, Martin Coyne and Noel Hayes, whose medal was accepted on his behalf by Eugene Stenson due to family commitments. The medals were presented by ONE national president Paul Cooney.

The medals were presented locally as the three men were unable to attend a national ceremony held before Christmas in McKee Barracks, Dublin, where five other Mullingar members, Ray Matthews, George Creighton, Sean Ellis, Danny McEntee and Mick Dollard, received their 25-year service awards.

Mr McKenna said the award marked a significant milestone in the life of the branch. “As far as I can remember, they are the longest-serving members in the branch,” he said, noting that while there are members elsewhere in the country with longer service, the eight recipients represent the most longstanding continuous service within the Mullingar branch.

The Mullingar branch has 35 members and meets at the Greville Arms Hotel on the last Thursday of the month.

Mr McKenna confirmed that the branch is open to new members, and applications generally progress through local contact and word of mouth before going through the formal membership process.