‘We should get 1916 Centenary Medal' – IUNVA

Retired members of the Defence Forces should be awarded the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal in recognition of their service to the state, a Mullingar veteran says.

The medal was awarded to permanent and reserve members of the Defence Forces in recognition of their role during the 1916 centenary events as well their service to the country. Similar medals were awarded to An Garda Síochána, Prison Service, Civil Defence and Fire Service.

However, although a significant number of retired members of the Defences Forces participated in the centenary events, Minister of State for Defence Paul Kehoe announced in the Dáil last October that the state would not be awarding them medals.

In a letter to Deputy Kehoe and other elected representatives (also sent to the Westmeath Examiner), Mullingar veteran Joseph Quinn called for a review that decision.

“I am a member of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA). Our association was established in 1990 and membership includes serving and retired members of the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and civilians who served in conflict zones under the UN – the largest cohort of the membership is retired military personnel. 

“The 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal was awarded in 2016 to Permanent and Reserve members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who were serving during 2016 in recognition of their role during the ceremonies and the work by the Defence Forces at home and abroad. 

“IUNVA and other veterans groups asked the minister to award the medal to retired military personnel in recognition of our service to the state and for playing our part during the commemorative ceremonies. 

“We have met and been in correspondence with Minister Kehoe as well as officials in the Dept of Defence but our request has been refused.

Parliamentary questions

“Mr Kehoe said in reply to parliamentary questions on awarding 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal to former members of the Defence Forces that “it would not be administratively possible within the resources of the department to identify and contact all of these persons, decide on eligibility and in the case of infirm or deceased former members resolve who should get the medal on their behalf”.

Since the foundation of the state there has been no ‘administrative’ or other difficulty in determining eligibility for the 1916 medal, the Service Medal (1917-1921), the 1916 Survivors Medal, the Truce (1921) Anniversary Medal, the Emergency Service Medal and the 1966 Survivors of the 1916 Rising Medal. 

“In more recent years the Defence Forces Human Resources Branch has confirmed eligibility and awarded the Service Medal and the UN Peacekeepers Medal to retired personnel. 

“The minister made a presentation of a framed medal to IUNVA, Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel and Association of Retired Commissioned Officers in recognition of the significant contribution of members of the three organisations to the 1916 centenary commemorative events and their service to the State of Veterans Day in September 2017. 

“Our members feel that was done as a token to shut us up and we are disappointed with the attitude of the Department of Defence.”

Mr Quinn says that the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar should “sanction the award of the Centenary Commemorative Medal to members of IUNVA and to other veterans who might apply for this award”.