Page 50 - QARANC Vol 17 No 2 2019

48 The Gazette QARANC Association
Northern Ireland Branch
Chair: Nuala Green
Eighteen QARANC Association members and friends gathered at Police HQ in Belfast on the first leg of a three stop summer outing. Our guide Roy met us and walked us through the RUC GC memorial garden. He explained the history of the garden and the significance of each of the memorials and the tablets with the names of those police officers who were killed during the ‘troubles’ as well as those who died in service. A little river flowed through the garden providing a calming peaceful environment. Everyone there felt the serenity of the
space where relatives can go to reflect and remember their loved ones.
The group then moved across to the Policing Museum where Neil told us the history of policing in Ireland and showed us some artefacts from the collection, a few dating from the 1850s. We were also entertained by some of Neil’s stories from the archives.
Following lunch we moved to the former gaol on Crumlin road, founded in 1846, which is now a museum and met our guide Teresa. The gaol was linked by an underground tunnel to the courthouse across the road where the prisoners learned their fate. We heard
about the inmates’ day through the years right up to 1996 when the gaol closed. Teresa showed us the rather grim execution room, where only 17 men were executed considering the thousands that resided within the grim walls over the 150 years of existence. On a lighter note, she also told us of a recent marriage proposal actually performed within the execution room!
We all learned a lot on our day out and after swapping stories over a reviving cup of tea the group headed home.
Maj (Retd) Nuala Green Branch Chair
Celebrating International Nurses Day
204 (NI) Field Hospital conducted a Unit Defence Operational Nursing Competency (DONC) Study weekend on 10 – 12 May 2019 at Hydebank Army Reserve Centre, Belfast. The intent of this study weekend was to develop core DONC competencies with all nurses, HCA’s and CMTs alongside all other health professionals within the unit.
This also coincided with International Nurses day 2019. The unit celebrated Nurses day and the work of Defence Nursing both here in Northern Ireland and across the globe. Members of 204 Field Hospital enjoyed music, cake and treats and of course some selfie opportunities.
Major Gabrielle Smyth 204 (NI) Field Hospital
Nurses from 204 (NI) Field Hospital Enjoying the celebrations
NI Nurse Day cake
The Annual Ceremony of Remembrance and Wreath Laying, Islandbridge, Dublin
On the July 13 2019, I attended a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the National War Memorial, Islandbridge, Dublin.
Islandbridge Memorial Park is situated on the banks of the river Liffey in Dublin. The monument was built in the 1930s to commemorate the Irish men and women who died in the Great War. It was never officially opened at that time due to the outbreak of World War 2 and political conditions at the time. The park gradually became overgrown and fell into disrepair and was vandalised.
The 1980s saw cultural and political shifts and a change in the public’s
Catherine Ball with QARANC wreath
From left Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Joan Thompson, Major (Retd) Marie Semple, Catherine Ball
view which led to the restoration of the park and memorial to its former splendour. It was officially opened nearly half a century after its creation. Since then there has been an annual Remembrance and Wreath Laying Ceremony.
Fifty years ago whilst I was a QARANC student nurse, due to adverse political conditions, it would have been unheard of to have had a Remembrance and Wreath Laying Ceremony in my home town of Dublin. But in July this year together with Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Joan Thompson and our standard bearer Major (Retd) Marie Semple, I attended this ceremony and proudly laid a wreath on behalf of the QARANC to commemorate the Irish nurses who died in the World Wars.
Catherine Ball