St Declan's students pictured with Captain Vincent Haigney (left) and Captain Stephen Connolly (right) in front of a Casa CN 235
Last Thursday, 24 November, a group of our senior students got to experience life in the Irish Defence Forces by visiting Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel in the morning followed by an afternoon visit to the Military Archives in Cathal Brugha barracks, Rathmines.
The aim of the day was to provide students with a hands on experience of life in the air corps by visiting an operational air base and meeting the people who work there. The visit was organised by Captain Vincent Haigney (101 Squadron). Vincent is a past pupil of the school and has enjoyed an exciting career over the last twenty years serving in Baldonnel. From his early years as a trainee pilot he has progressed to become chief flight instructor looking after all new trainee pilots and instructors. Initial pilot training takes place using the Pilatus PC-9M aircraft. The air corps have eight of these. Recently he has returned to operational duties flying and instructing on the Casa CN 235 Maritime Patrol aircraft.
The students got to see the full complement of aircraft at Baldonnel, both planes and helicopters, and enjoyed a two hour tour of the base. During the visit they spoke with three past pupils, pilot Captains Vincent Haigney & Stephen Connolly as well as apprentice aircraft technician Eugene Oleksyuk (Leaving Cert 2021). Having undergone initial military training Eugene is now studying and training at the Technical Training School (TTS). The primary focus of the TTS is the Bachelor of Engineering Technology Degree in Military Aviation Technology which is available to leaving certificate students who wish to join the Air Corps. The academic programme is of three years duration, two semesters per year, and entails military training to the level of three star Airman/Airwoman.
The morning visit concluded with a presentation in the training school by Vincent where he outlined what life is like in the air corps and the different routes of entry. Those interested in this career can enter as a Recruit, an Apprentice Aircraft Technician or an Air Corps Cadet (Pilot). A huge variety of work is on offer allowing a range of skills to be acquired. In particular the importance of working as part of a highly skilled and inter-dependent team was stressed. Trust is central to being part of that team as peoples' lives depend on each person in the team making the right decisions and doing their job effectively and efficiently. It was certainly food for thought with many students leaving the air base considering a career in Óglaigh na hÉireann as an exciting and viable option.
After a break we continued the Irish defence Force theme with a visit to Cathal Brugha barracks in Rathmines. Once again we were fortunate to receive an invitation to visit the Military Archives located in the barracks from a former pupil, the officer-in-command of the archives Commandant Daniel Ayiotis. Dan joined the Army as a Cadet with the 79th Cadet Class in 2002, having served previously as a reservist with the 7th Field Artillery Regiment since 1998. In 2004 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant to the 27th Infantry Battalion based in Dundalk and Monaghan. He has served overseas with the Army in Kosovo (2009-10) and Lebanon (2012). In 2013 he was posted to the 2nd Brigade Ordnance Group in Cathal Brugha Barracks and in 2015 successfully applied for the position of Staff Officer in the Military Archives. Daniel has a BA in Sociology, Politics and Philosophy from the National University of Ireland, Galway (2005-08), and an MA in Archives and Records Management from University College Dublin (2016).
He took charge of the archives at a critical time in its development allowing an increasing amount of records to be made accessible to students and visitors alike. They have been extremely busy during the Decade of Centenaries assisting family members and historians with their queries in particular in relation to the Military Service Pensions Collection https://www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/military-service-pensions-collection-1916-1923 and Witness statements. Some of the main work currently taking place involves continued digitisation of records bringing greater access to people without having to visit the archive in person.
Credit: © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORB
Dan began the tour with an outline of the work of the archives and what is held in their collections. Students got to see where the records are housed in state of the art facilities as well as a visit to the reading room. From there they went to the barrack museum viewing artefacts relating to the barracks and in particular those of Cathal Brugha and Michael Collins. Their association with the barracks (formerly Portobello barracks) was really informative. The tour ended at the spot where one of the most famous photographs of General Michael Collins was taken a few days before he was shot in Beál na Bláth. Here Dan encouraged the group to consider a career in the army and how it has offered him such varied and interesting opportunities.
We would like to thank Dan and Vincent for the warmth of their welcome and the opportunity to experience military life. It was a memorable day for all.
More information on careers in the defence forces can be found at the following link:
https://www.military.ie/en/who-we-are/air-corps/air-corps-college/