June 2012

Importance of Archiving.

Congratulations to Paudie on the quality and quantity of photos of our Remembrance Mass. We may not appreciate the value of maintaining a record of our various events and we can be blasé about things. As a Post we do so much and generally do it very well that we tend to look forward to the next project without properly archiving the current or previous one. The perfect example of this to my mind was the total lack of appreciation shown to the history of the unit from 1948 when it first occupied The Aerodrome as the 1 st Motor Squadron until the day in 1998, 50 years on, when it was evicted from Fitzgerald Camp as the 1 st Cavalry Squadron. Innumerable irreplaceable photographs were discarded. One would be slow to apportion blame for this blunder as it was a traumatic period for all concerned and it can only be hoped that something similar will never again happen.

Thankfully some photos were salvaged and will contribute greatly to the units continued success and sense of history and pride. There isn’t one of us who when going through old photos will not stop at one and spend wistful moments recalling what makes that particular snap special and worth pausing at. There can be a myriad of reasons for this and that’s why our recording of what we are doing is retained for those coming after. They may choose to ignore them as is their right but we should make those memories available.

That’s why Paudie and all those who take the bother of recording events are so vital to our ethos and continued success. I am one of the many who do not take snaps anymore and rely upon others. I do have snaps for a bygone era when I used to snap anything. Looking at some of them I wonder why I wasted film on them however some I treasure and they’ll be around after I’m gone. I don’t know for how long after I’m gone but I’ll not have wilfully discarded something that someone at a later date may appreciate. To further make the point last Friday at the re-union of ex-NCOs in Collins Bks we were conducted on a tour of various locations of interest. Without doubt the most interesting location was Sqdn HQ where they are compiling a photographic history of the unit. It was a pleasure to see so many photos of comrades many of whom are long gone and their only link to today is through the photos. We even were able to supply names to many of the faces and in some cases what the photograph was celebrating.

The moral of the story? Those old photos which are in an old shoebox up in the attic or in some other cubby hole may have lost their signifigance to you but if donated to the right person may be highly significent in weaving together another strand of unit history. Rummage through them and make them available to someone like Paudie who is doing great work and also SQMS Mick O'Donovan 1 Cav Sqdn who appears to be the driving force within the Sqdn in not allowing memories and characters slip silently into oblivion. You can access Paudies web site by clicking into ours, follow the link into his and click onto his facebook page. It's certainly worth your while.

For those who couldn't attend our monthly meeting last week a resume is as follows; PJ supplied a breakdown on the cost of our remembrance Mass. Everyone was loud in their praise for how well it went, for the catering by Breda McCarthy and friends and to the staff of the pitch and putt club. Tom Cannon's months mind and Christy Hanley's anniversary Masses were attended by members of the Post. Ex Sgt Jim Flynn's family were presented back with his medals suitably mounted with the photo supplied by them. His family deeply appreciated the gesture. There was a reminder of the Post's commitment to supply the colour party at the annual Mass for Ballincollig Branch ONE on Sunday 29 th July. Names are still required by PJ for the roster of collectors for our annual flag day collection on the Saturday of the next bank holiday. Martin and Des will be attending the AGC of IUNVA in Athlone this weekend. The 50 th anniversary Mass for Ex Trooper Mossie Magnier will be celebrated on 27 th July, more on this nearer the date. The outing to Killarney is not going ahead.

Our members extend their condolences to Paddy Butler on the loss of his uncle Ned who died on Sunday 1 st July. The Post was represented at his removal on Monday and burial on Tuesday. Ned was 92 but no matter how long a person lives death is still a great loss. To Paddy and his family we send our best wishes and may Ned rest in peace.


	Importance of Archiving. Congratulations to Paudie on the quality and quantity of photos of our Remembrance Mass. We may not appreciate the value of maintaining a record of our various events and we can be blasé about things. As a Post we do so much and generally do it very well that we tend to look forward to the next project without properly archiving the current or previous one. The perfect example of this to my mind was the total lack of appreciation shown to the history of the unit from 1948 when it first occupied The Aerodrome as the 1 st Motor Squadron until the day in 1998, 50 years on, when it was evicted from Fitzgerald Camp as the 1 st Cavalry Squadron. Innumerable irreplaceable photographs were discarded. One would be slow to apportion blame for this blunder as it was a traumatic period for all concerned and it can only be hoped that something similar will never again happen. Thankfully some photos were salvaged and will contribute greatly to the units continued success and sense of history and pride. There isn’t one of us who when going through old photos will not stop at one and spend wistful moments recalling what makes that particular snap special and worth pausing at. There can be a myriad of reasons for this and that’s why our recording of what we are doing is retained for those coming after. They may choose to ignore them as is their right but we should make those memories available. That’s why Paudie and all those who take the bother of recording events are so vital to our ethos and continued success. I am one of the many who do not take snaps anymore and rely upon others. I do have snaps for a bygone era when I used to snap anything. Looking at some of them I wonder why I wasted film on them however some I treasure and they’ll be around after I’m gone. I don’t know for how long after I’m gone but I’ll not have wilfully discarded something that someone at a later date may appreciate. To further make the point last Friday at the re-union of ex-NCOs in Collins Bks we were conducted on a tour of various locations of interest. Without doubt the most interesting location was Sqdn HQ where they are compiling a photographic history of the unit. It was a pleasure to see so many photos of comrades many of whom are long gone and their only link to today is through the photos. We even were able to supply names to many of the faces and in some cases what the photograph was celebrating. The moral of the story? Those old photos which are in an old shoebox up in the attic or in some other cubby hole may have lost their signifigance to you but if donated to the right person may be highly significent in weaving together another strand of unit history. Rummage through them and make them available to someone like Paudie who is doing great work and also SQMS Mick O'Donovan 1 Cav Sqdn who appears to be the driving force within the Sqdn in not allowing memories and characters slip silently into oblivion. You can access Paudies web site by clicking into ours, follow the link into his and click onto his facebook page. It's certainly worth your while. For those who couldn't attend our monthly meeting last week a resume is as follows; PJ supplied a breakdown on the cost of our remembrance Mass. Everyone was loud in their praise for how well it went, for the catering by Breda McCarthy and friends and to the staff of the pitch and putt club. Tom Cannon's months mind and Christy Hanley's anniversary Masses were attended by members of the Post. Ex Sgt Jim Flynn's family were presented back with his medals suitably mounted with the photo supplied by them. His family deeply appreciated the gesture. There was a reminder of the Post's commitment to supply the colour party at the annual Mass for Ballincollig Branch ONE on Sunday 29 th July. Names are still required by PJ for the roster of collectors for our annual flag day collection on the Saturday of the next bank holiday. Martin and Des will be attending the AGC of IUNVA in Athlone this weekend. The 50 th anniversary Mass for Ex Trooper Mossie Magnier will be celebrated on 27 th July, more on this nearer the date. The outing to Killarney is not going ahead. Our members extend their condolences to Paddy Butler on the loss of his uncle Ned who died on Sunday 1 st July. The Post was represented at his removal on Monday and burial on Tuesday. Ned was 92 but no matter how long a person lives death is still a great loss. To Paddy and his family we send our best wishes and may Ned rest in peace.