Defence Forces Veterans Support Centre is opened in south Tipperary

A Defence Forces Veterans Support Centre developed by the South Tipperary Branch of the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel was opened in Carrick-on-Suir last week.

ONE National President Mick Kinahan and South Tipperary ONE Branch Chairperson Audra Larkin cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony on Sunday, October 15 for the new centre, located in part of St Nicholas & Faugheen Parish Presbytery at Castle Street.

The centre was blessed by Fr Jimmy Browne, Priest in Charge of Ballyneale & Grangemockler Parish.

The centre is a place for retired Defence Forces members to meet and socialise with former comrades but also a place where veterans struggling with health, mental health, homelessness and other problems can go for information, advice and support.

It’s part of a nationwide network of Veterans Support Centres the ONE is in the process of developing.

The Veterans Support Centre is based in two rooms at the presbytery, which have been renovated by ONE volunteers.

Audra Larkin paid tribute to St Nicholas & Faugheen Parish Priest Fr Paul Waldron for his support in allowing part of the presbytery to be given over to the centre.

“When we broached the idea with him, there was no hestitation. He said absolutely we are on board.”

She said the South Tipperary ONE Branch, which has 30 members, plans to open another Veterans Support Centre in Clonmel in about 18 months time.

The centres are being opened to cater for the high population of Defence Forces veterans living in the Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir areas who formerly served at Kickham Army Barracks in Clonmel.

Audra, who lives in Fethard, is the centre’s Veterans Support Officer as well as branch chairperson.

She is actually the ONE’s first ever female Veterans Support Officer. She formerly served in the army medical corps at Collins Barracks in Cork.

“The primary focus of the ONE is on wellness and mental health support. We provide a drop-in service where a Veterans Support Officers is there for members if they need advice, information or support through the centre.

The centre is also a place where members can get together with their former comrades for a social chat. It’s about that peer support with like minded people.”

She said the centre will be run by a team of ONE branch members on a rota basis. It is open four days a week: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2pm to 5pm; Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.

The official opening ceremony was attended by the ONE’s CEO Cormac Kirwan along with national President Michael Kinahan and other senior ONE figures. Local members of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) were among the guests.

ONE South Tipperary Branch member Denis Larkin, who is a member of the organisation’s board of directors, was the main speaker.

He pointed out that the South Tipperary Branch of ONE was formed three years ago and led by an all-female committee officers and a “room full of ambition”. The opening of the Veterans Support Centre within five years was among their goals.

“Our branch is made up of members from all of the services within the Defence Forces, with a wide range of experience, all driven with one goal, to give back for what we got.

“Our branch has been out and about working with our veteran community since its inception three years ago and continues to do so on a daily basis.

“We have our Veterans Support Officer Audra Larkin, who works with our veterans in a supporting role, and now we have our Veterans Supports Centre here, where our veterans and family members can pop in for a chat or for whatever is on their mind on the day. To sum up we are veterans serving veterans.

Denis echoed Audra Larkin in thanking Fr Waldron for his support and assistance. He also thanked Tusla Regional Manager Eamon Cahill, Clearys Hardware, Carrick-on-Suir and BWG Value Centre, Clonmel and the centre’s neighbours in Castle Street for their support.

He paid tribute to the Cork City ONE Branch for being a “guiding light” to the South Tipperary branch and steering them in the right direction when they asked for help.

And he paid tribute to the branch’s members for the personal sacrifices they made over the last year to get the centre up and running.

ONE National President Michael Kinahan congratulated the South Tipperary Branch on bringing the project to fruition in such a short time while ONE CEO Cormac Kirwan addressed the official opening about the ONE’s work in supporting struggling veterans around the country.

Caption for picture below: ONE members and their partners who attended the official opening of the South Tipperary ONE Veterans Support Centre at St Nicholas & Faugheen Parish Presbytery at Castle Street in Carrick-on-Suir. Check out more of Anne Marie Magorrian's photos from the official opening in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops.