Last Jadotville officer to speak at Mayo Military Heroes event
THE last surviving officer from the famous Battle of Jadotville in the Congo in 1961 is to speak at a special Mayo Day event honouring military heroes at home and abroad.
Mayo Military Heroes takes place from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2. It is organised by O.N.E. (the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel) and hosted at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar.
Retired Army Captain Noel Carey will speak on the day about his experiences at Jadotville during a UN mission to the Congo.
Previously described as the Irish army's 'forgotten battle', the heroic efforts of the Irish soldiers during a bloody five-day siege at Jadotville received some long overdue recognition through the gripping Netflix drama in 2016 starring Jamie Dornan.
Captain Noel Carey and his comrades were awarded the Jadotville Medal for Bravery in 2017 for their service.
Other speakers on the day include Captain Donal Buckley (Ret'd), who will remember some of Mayo's military heroes down through the years, and Commander Ron Howko from the American Legion branch in Claremorris.
There will be a display of military vehicles, some information stands from the Irish defence forces, and a performance by the Foxford Brass and Reed Band.
Captain Buckley is coordinating the event as part of the county-wide Mayo Day celebrations. He explained the importance of highlighting and celebrating Mayo's military heroes.
"When you think of Mayo you may not necessarily think of military heroes. However, the county boasts many military heroes down through the generations," he said. "There have been 12 recipients from Mayo awarded a Medal of Honour in the U.S., which is quite extraordinary.
"There have been three Victoria Crosses awarded for service in the UK. We have living here in Mayo with us Captain Noel Carey, who is the last surviving officer from Jadotville. It is important to learn from their experiences and highlight their contributions."
Admission to Mayo's Military Heroes is free. All are welcome to come along to see the military vehicles and other activities on the day.
Booking is required for the talks which take place in the audio visual theatre at Turlough Park. Visit www.museum.ie for full programme details and to book a talk.