Tullamore army veterans group opens new support centre for members

IN recent years, membership of the Tullamore Branch of the National Organisation of Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) has increased to over 20 members.

Mindful of the need to provide an opportunity for members to meet on a weekly basis, a partnership with Tullamore Family and Community Resource Center located in Arden View, will facilitate Defence Force veterans meeting on Thursday mornings from 10.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs.

A key objective of the establishment of the Veteran Support Centre is to provide social activities on a weekly basis in a comfortable and pleasant environment for our members – retired members of the Defence Forces living in the locality.

The Veteran Support Centre will act as a conduit for peer-to-peer support, and provide training and education opportunities to assists veterans in managing everyday life obstacles. The provision of this new Veteran Support Centre will provide services to all veterans of the Defence Forces and not just members of Tullamore Branch ONE.

Comradeship is a primary focus of ONE and the opening of the new Veteran Support Centre will provide opportunities to build and sustain comradeship within the veteran community.

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Remembrance is another important objective of ONE and Tullamore Branch organise an annual remembrance ceremony to remember deceased members.

Tullamore Branch ONE is seeking new members and membership of ONE is open to personnel with at least one year’s satisfactory service in any of the following organisations:

• Veterans and serving personnel of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF)

• Veterans and serving personnel of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF)

• Ex-service personnel of the Civil Defence

• Ex-service members of An Garda Síochána

• Ex-service personnel of the Irish Red Cross

The 2026 AGM of Tullamore Branch ONE will take place at 20.00 hrs on Wednesday 11th February in the Tullamore Family and Community Resource Center, Arden View – Eircode R35 YF57. Paul Cooley – ONE National President will attend and address the meeting. Personnel interested in joining ONE are requested to contact any Tullamore Branch member. All potential members are welcome to attend the AGM and comrades please remember that “As individuals we stand alone, together as veterans we are ONE”.

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Photograph above shows members of Tullamore Branch ONE attending the recently opened Veteran Support Centre in the Tullamore Family and Community Resource Centre, Arden View. (Back Row) Mary Theresa Lowbridge, Gerard Monahan – Branch Secretary, Eugene Lowbridge, John Forrestal, Noel Digan, (Front Row) Joe Fagan, Pat Doheny – Branch Chairperson, Dinjo Connolly, Philip Martin.