Popular Mullingar man Ger O’Connor formally retired from the Reserve Defence Forces this week after almost 42 years of service and with the very rare distinction of being the author of one of the Defence Forces’ most colourful and informative books, providing for all ranks, and the public, with full details and photos of all its medals and ribbons since the founding of the State to the present.
Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) Ger O’Connor is a postman in Mullingar and over the decades he has combined his work with An Post with endless additional hours in the service of the State and the army’s Reserve, firstly with Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil, the FCA, which later became the Reserve Defence Force (RDF).
MULLINGAR FAMILY
Ger is a son of the late Shane and Maureen O’Connor, Austin Friars Street, Mullingar.
Ger and Eileen (née Rickard) O’Connor live at Clonmore Heights, Mullingar and Ger is now 30 years with An Post.
Prior to that he worked for 13 years as a dough maker with Mullally’s Bakery, Dominick Street, Mullingar (which is now the Topic Newspapers Ltd. premises).
He served his time in Mullally’s Bakery and did his City & Guilds Bakery Course at Galway IT.
Sadly, one of Ger and Eileen’s sons, Shane, is now deceased and he is survived by his wife, Tracy and their son, Luke.
Ger and Eileen’s other sons are Martin and Joe O’Connor. Martin is married to Donna, and they have a daughter, Alison.
JOINED FCA
Ger O’Connor joined the then Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCA), the army’s Reserve, on 1 May, 1975, at the age of 18 years, in Columb Barracks, Mullingar where he was taken into the 20th. Battery of the 4th. Field Artillery Regiment (4 FAR).
Ger was promoted to corporal two years late, in 1977, in Fort Dunree, Donegal, and to the rank of sergeant in Columb Barracks in 1979.
Ger did his Senior NCOs’ course in Athlone with Sgt. Martin Moffatt.
SEVERAL UNITS
In 1979 the FCA became a stand-alone Regiment of then Defence Forces and thus the start of the historic 9th. Field Artillery Regiment (9 FAR), which won numerous Brigade, Command and All-Army shooting competitions.
A member of the Rifle & Falling Plates teams during those years, Ger won team medals at both Brigade and Command level and was a one time runner-up in the All-Army Falling Plates Competition.
In 2005 the 9 FAR ceased as a unit and again there was a new Regiment formed, 54 RAR, the 54th. Reserve Artillery Regiment (Army Reserve).
Ger was now Battery Quartermaster Sergeant (BQMS), promoted by the late Comdt. Des Colman, RIP, Mullingar.
FIRST EVER
Uniquely, Ger O’Connor was the author of the first ever Defence Forces of Ireland medals book, ‘The Medals of the Irish Defence Forces’, first printed in 2010 and with the official launch by Lt. General Seán McCann, Chief of Staff, in January 2011 in the Officers’ Mess, McKee Barracks, Dublin.
Ger was then afforded a local launch of the book, which was on 18 February, 2011 in the NCOs’ Mess, Columb Barracks, Mullingar, hosted by Lt. Col. Arthur Armstrong, O/C, Columb Barracks and 4 FAR, together with Comdt. (now Colonel) Paul Whelan. then O/C 54 RAR and his cadre staff.
This was the last book to be launched in the now closed Columb Barracks, Mullingar, and is regarded as another piece of history for the historic barracks.
THIS WEEK
In 2013 the 54th. Reserve Artillery Regiment also ceased to exist, the last Reserve regiment in the country to be stood down, making its own piece of history.
The new Reserve Unit in Mullingar was C Company, based in Lynn Industrial Estate, Mullingar, and a sub-unit of the 6th. Infantry Battalion, Custume Barracks, Athlone.
Ger served as a member of C Company as Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) up to midnight on Sunday of this week, 5 February, when he formally retired.
Prior to his retirement, the ‘medals man’, as he is known throughout the Defence Forces, was presented with the 1916 Centenary Medal by Lt. Col. Jimmy Whittaker, Officer Commanding, 6th. Infantry Battalion, at a ceremony in Custume Barracks, Athlone.
MILITARY TRADITION
Ger has now come to the end of his career with the Reserve Defence Forces.
True to form and a stickler for detail and accuracy, he points out that he served for exactly 41 years and 280 days service to the State.
He told ‘Topic’ that he has “enjoyed his journey and the friends and comrades he has met along the way”.
He wishes all his friends in 6 Company best wishes for their future, and he hopes this Reserve unit will continue Mullingar’s strong military tradition, stretching back some 800 years.
