The 23 men and one woman had enlisted in lowest ranks of Army, Naval Service and Air Corps
, “we are living in a changing society and face different threats to those of the past, including terrorism, cyber attacks and hybrid threats . . .”had been sounding for about a minute, a red light flashing in the corner of the hall and a high pitched “dee-daa, dee-daa” fire alarm puncturing the air.Senior officers shuffled uncomfortably in their seats or stared stoically ahead; a man from the Castle rushed in to whisper an explanation. The alarm blared on.
Lieut Colin McNamara is congratulated by his children Conor, Aoibh and Rian after being commissioned as an officer. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times Yesterday, a year’s training in the cadet school came to an end for the 23 men and one woman and the members of thebecame full officers, receiving their commissions and immediate promotions to the rank of either captain or lieutenant.
The 24 swore their oath in Irish, received their commission on parchment and listened as the musicians played Gabriel’s Oboe in their honour. Parents, partners, siblings and friends looked on with pride, smartphones deployed to record the occasion.
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