Mass & Dedication of Memorial to SS Caomhán Seoighe

Inis Oírr  29 v 2015

The Minister for Defence Mr Simon Coveney T.D., Lt Gen Conor O’Boyle and Mr Maurice Quinn (Secretary General of the Department of Defence) attended a commemorative ceremony in honour of Saighdiúir Singil Caomhán Seoighe on Inis Oírr on Friday 29 May 2015.

The ceremony was dedicated to the memory of SS Seoighe who has been Missing In Action since an incident in Dynater, South Lebanon on 27 April 1981 where he had been deployed with 48 Inf Bn with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

The dignatories who were led by Brig Gen Kieran Brennan (GOC 1 Brigade) gathered with members of Caomhán’s family, his home unit An Chéad Chathlán Coisithe and colleagues from 48th Infantry Battalion for Mass in Teampall Chaomhán and the unveiling and blessing of a monument.

Mass on Friday was celebrated by Fr Gearóid Ó Gríofa who was joined by Fr Mairtín Ó Conaire (PP Aran Islands) and Fr Paul Murphy CF (recently returned from Lebanon) and Fr Robert McCabe CF.  The homily was delivered by Fr John D. Keane.

The altar in Teampall Chaomháin was dressed for the Mass by Caomhán’s sister Máire in a “Damascus cloth” and with two candlesticks which had been purchased in Lebanon. Photos of Caomhán with colleagues in Lebanon were placed alongside a jug of roses representing his siblings and parents in the window frame of the sunken chapel on the island.

In his homily, Fr Keane described his memories of Caomhán from his birth in 1960 through his primary education in Scoil Chaomháin and then secondary education in Coláiste Éinne.

“Ba é an duine b’óige de sheisear é – Seán, Cóilí, Pádraig, Mikie agus Máire. Solas na bhFlaitheas d’anamnacha a athair Micheal a bhásaigh i 1992, agus a mháthair, Mary Agnes a bhásaigh i 2002.”

Caomhán joined the Defence Forces in Renmore in 1979 and deployed to Lebanon with 48 Infantry Battalion. ”Bhí sé de mhishneach aige aghaidh a thabhairt ar an Liobáin agus seasamh ar son na síochána.” Fr Keane described Caomhán’s dreams back in 1981 as threefold: plans to be back home for a friend’s wedding, looking forward to celebrating his 21st birthday at home and to building his own house on the island.  This all changed on 27th April “nuair a tháinig an scéala a chuir an scannra trínár gcroí: Bhí Caomhán ar iarraidh agus a chompánach Hugh Doherty as Leitir Ceannainn ar Shlí na Fírinne”.  

Fr Keane reminded the congregation of the words from the Gospels: “Dúirt Íosa Mac Dé féin linn: Is beannaithe iad lucht na síochána, óir is leo Ríocht na bhFlaitheas.” He continued “Nach muide, muintir Inis Oírr, Inis Meáin agus Árainn atá bródúil asat, a Chaomháin! … Fada an lá seo ag teacht! Cuireann muide fáilte abhaile romhat inniú! Tá t-ainm greanta ar an gCloch sa reilig, ach tá agus beidh sé greanta ar ár gcroí go brách!”

Music for the Mass was provided by the primary and secondary school children of Inis Oírr. Readings and Prayers of the Faithful were read by relations and classmates of Caomhán.

After the Mass, the congregation moved to the monument beside the Seoighe family grave.  An address was given by Minister Coveney after which he and Caomhán’s sister Máire unveiled the stone which stands beside the Seoighe family grave in the cemetery on Inis Oírr. It was sculpted from limestone by the sculptor Alexandra Morosco. The lettering was carved by Tom Little.

The carved stone was blessed by Fr Robert McCabe CF “chun go mbeadh áit ar deireadh ag ár mbráthair Caomhán sa reilig, sa bhaile, ar an oileán.” A prayer was also included for all UN Peacekeepers as the ceremony coincided with the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

The wreath-laying on behalf of the Government, the Defence Forces and the Seoighe family was followed by the sounding of Last Post. The National Flag was raised to full mast. Reveille was sounded and the ceremony concluded with the National Anthem. The parade commander was Lt Col Mary Carroll OC I Cn Cois.

Music on the day was provided by the Band of 1 Brigade conducted by Capt Brian Prendergast and pipes played by Sgt Noel McCarthy. The provision of a commemorative booklet and Mass leaflet prepared by the Defence Forces Printing Press was much appreciated by the large attendance on the day.

The work by staff of 1 Brigade HQ and 1 Cn Cois combined with the clement weather conditions to provide a very dignified, prayerful and supportive ceremony for family, islanders and colleagues of Saighdiúir Singil Caomhán Seoighe.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé i nDún na bhFlaitheas!

Prayer of Blessing for the Commemorative Stone:

A Thiarna Dia, guimís do bheannacht
ar gach duine atá anseo inniú
agus ar muntir Inir Oírr in ngar agus i gcéin
atá aontaithe i smaointe linn.

Táimíd bailithe le chéile
timpeall an leac cuimhneacháin
atá réite agus roghnaithe
go cúramach agus go grámhar
chun go mbeadh áit ar deireadh ag Caomhán
sa reilig, sa bhaile, ‘s ar an oileán.

Iarrmaid ort a Rí na bhFlaitheas
go mbeadh sé mar cloch-ceangailte linne
agus le gach saighdiúir atá ag obair
leis na Náisiúin Aontaithe inniú
agus dóibh siúd a thabharfaidh cuairt
ar Teampall Chaomháin amach anseo.