Defence Forces

TWO former Ennis students have been appointed to two of the top roles in the Defence Forces on the same day.

Ennis native, Major General Adrian Ó Murchú has been appointed the Defence Forces Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) while Lieutenant General Seán Clancy has been appointed as Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.

General Ó Murchú joined the Permanent Defence Forces in 1982 as a member of the 59th Cadet Class. Prior to that, he spent several years in the Army Reserve (22nd Infantry Battalion FCA) in his home town of Ennis, where he was a Rice College student.

General Ó Murchú has a long military resume that includes service in the 6th Infantry Battalion, the Army Ranger Wing, Military Intelligence and the Infantry School. Later appointments included Chief Instructor of the Cadet School, School Commandant of the UN Training School Ireland and Commanding Officer of the DF’s Central Medical Unit. In recent years he served as Director of Strategic Planning (D SPB) and Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) and Defence Forces Risk Manager.

He has served overseas with the UN in South Lebanon, Somalia, Western Sahara, Israel and Syria, and Ivory Coast.

Major General Adrian Ó Murchú

General Ó Murchú holds an honours degree in French and English literature from NUIG, is a graduate (with Merit) of the École de Guerre in Paris and has a Masters (with Distinction) in International Liaison and Communication from the University of Westminster. In 2018 he completed an Executive Diploma in Strategy Development and Innovation (with Distinction) at the Smurfit Business School in UCD. He holds a NATO interpreter qualification in French and has a keen interest in Irish language and music. He also holds various instructor qualifications as a diver and parachutist (both military and sport), and is President of Defence Forces Parachuting.

General Ó Murchú is married to Deirdre Kennedy, a third level lecturer, and is blessed with a son Oisín and a daughter Síofra.

Lieutenant General Seán Clancy

Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, meanwhile, is a native of Mitchelstown but spent his adolescence attending St Flannan’s in Ennis as a boarder.

Lieutenant General Clancy has further links to County Clare as his grandfather was a native of Kilrush. He joined the Irish Defence Forces in 1984 as a cadet and commenced his flight training in 1986.

He has spent a considerable period of his career as a Search and Rescue pilot and was the commander of the crew who received the Marine Medal for Meritorious Service in 2002. He has served for a year with the European Union Force in Bosnia as the military advisor to the Force Commander and spent two years as a non-permanent member of SHIRBRIG, the UN standby Brigade.

Lieutenant General Seán Clancy is married to Caroline. They have three children and live in Dublin.

Related News

shannon group clare crusaders little blue heroes 1-2
Clare Crusaders & Little Blue Heroes chosen as Shannon Airport Group's charity partners for 2025
jim enright 1-2
Scór long-service award for Cratloe's Jim Enright
st brendan's road lisdoonvarna 1
Corofin developers lodge plans for 60 houses in Lisdoonvarna
ambulance 1
Clare 'always suffering on health front' - Cllrs seek Dáil committee to examine emergency response times

Advertisement

Latest News
jim enright 1-2
Scór long-service award for Cratloe's Jim Enright
Lunch Time Lifestyle with the Clare Echo Contributers (19)
Regnum Carya Golf Resort
492300430_1265350338926478_8538017681006863111_n
Ennis RFC 'bursting with pride' as Aoife Corey makes Ireland debut in 6 Nations
st brendan's road lisdoonvarna 1
Corofin developers lodge plans for 60 houses in Lisdoonvarna
grease ennistymon choral society 2
Grease is the word in Ennistymon
Premium
clare v limerick minor 25-04-25 evan crimmins 2
Clare minors lower Limerick to set up do or die tie with Waterford
ambulance 1
Clare 'always suffering on health front' - Cllrs seek Dáil committee to examine emergency response times
clare v waterford 19-05-24 ken ralph 2
'Clare were disrespected in commentary before start of championship' - Ralph
clare v tipperary 19-04-25 peter keane 2
'We're opening doors' - Keane praises Clare for kicking on but stresses goal chances must be taken
liscannor 23-04-25 footpath 6
'Embarrassing' state of footpaths, kerbs & parking slammed in Liscannor

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement