- John O'Brien,
- 1947-1966.
- Carlow.
Transcribed in Oct. 2008 by Michael Purcell
from schooldays scrapbook.
John
O'Brien was known to his schoolmates and friends in Carlow as Duck
Brien, his brother Fred Brien died in Feb. 2012.
The Nationalist and Leinster Times.
23rd December 1966.
Death
of young Carlow Soldier.
Carlow was saddened by the death in St. Bricin's Military Hospital,
Dublin, on Saturday of Private John O'Brien, aged 19 and a half years,
son of Mr John O'Brien, Urban District Councillor, and Mrs O'Brien,
Staplestown Road, Carlow.
His
tragic death after an operation aroused deep sympathy for his family
who are well known and popular in the area.
Private O'Brien was a past pupil of Carlow C.B.S. and the local
Vocational School. He was accepted at the Army Apprenticeship School
in Naas where he completed three years training and passed out as a
motor technician.
He
was first posted to Clark Barracks, Curragh Camp, and from there to
Clancy Barracks, Islandbridge, Dublin. He then served at Columb
Barracks, Mullingar and was then appointed to Supply and Transport,
1st Battalion, Renmore Barracks, Galway, where he was to the time of
his sudden illness.
A
noted athlete, the late Pte. O'Brien was on the winning Command H.Q.
team which beat the 5th Battalion in the All Army Football Final.
In
the Army Boxing Championships, he competed in Dublin, Cork and the
Curragh, winning all his bouts and he also won trophies for basketball
and cross country running.
A
huge cortege accompanied the remains to the Cathedral of the
Assumption and interment took place in St Mary's cemetery on Tuesday.
At
the removal of the remains from St Bricin's Hospital, the bearer
party, under Captains Hall and Ghent, accompanied by the Army No. 1
Band, escorted the cortege to the hospital boundary, accompanied by
Rev. Fr. Duffy, Head C.F. Comdt. O'Callaghan, O/C, Columb Barracks and
Lieuts. Field and Casey attended the funeral. Full Military honours
were rendered by the 6th Brig. H.Q. Kilkenny, under Lieut Kellett and
Coy/Sgt. Michael Brophy and a bugler from the 2nd Batt., 6th Brig.,
Portabello Barracks.
A
platoon of the late Private O'Brien's comrades from the 1st Batt.
Renmore Barracks, Galway, marched behind the cortege to the cemetery,
while Michael and Brian (brothers) and Daniel Byrne (nephew)
represented the Army Apprenticeship School, Naas, at the funeral.
Chief
mourners: John and May O'Brien, (parents), James, Martin, Frederick,
and Michael (brothers), Mrs May Moore, Mrs Nancy Byrne, Mrs Margaret
Burke, Mrs Frances James, Mrs Bridgid Collins, (sisters), Michael,
William, Francis, and Martin O'Brien, (uncles), Mrs. Annie O'Brien, Mrs
Elizabeth O'Brien, Mrs McDarby and Mrs Byrne (aunts).
Following Mass celebrated by V. Rev. Cornelius Crowley, Adm. in the
Cathedral, prayers at the graveside were recited by Rev. Fr. Brady,
C.F., Western Command, Mullingar, and Rev. J. Fingleton, C.C., Carlow.
Source: Michael Purcell
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