Welcome to the 19 Infantry Battalion F.C.A. Association. Our Association was inaugurated on 11th June 2008 and officially launched by Lt. Gen. Jim Shreenan ( Retired ) on Sunday 27th September 2009 in Boyle. The Association consists of F.C.A. & P.D.F. members of the former 19 Infantry Battalion. The aim of the Association is for members of the former Battalion to keep in contact with each other.

Latest News/Events

Christmas and New Year's Wishes 2025

The President, Chairman and Committee of the 19th Infantry Battalion FCA Association wish all our members a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a Safe and Healthy New Year.

We thank all those who participated in our activities during the year, and look forward to having even more members involved in 2026.

We extend Seasons Greetings to our comrades in the PDF and RDF serving at home and abroad, all our retired comrades who served in Oglaigh na h-Eireann and their families, and we extend an invitation to all who may have served in the 19th Infantry Battalion FCA, and who have not yet joined our Association, to join us in the New Year.

Beannachtaí na Nollag oraibh go léir!

Annual Mass 2025


Our Annual Mass for deceased members of the Association, and those in poor health, was celebrated in St Clare’s Church, Manorhamilton, on Sunday November 2nd (All Souls Day). Hosted by our former comrades in D Coy, the celebrant was V Rev Fr John Gilhooly, and the readings were done by Sean Farrell. Military Honours were rendered at the Elevation by the National Flag Party under Pat Casey, flanked by Seamus O Donnell and Bertie Moran. Light refreshments, as arranged by former D Coy personnel were enjoyed in Osta W8, Church Lane, after Mass.

There was a very good turn-out of Association personnel, many in full Association Uniform, and we all appreciated the opportunity to attend our Annual Mass in person, as in 2020, the last occasion that our Mass was celebrated in Manorhamilton, the Association was unable to attend, due to Covid-19 Public Health restrictions. Luckily, Church TV had been installed at the time, so we could at least participate in the 2020 Mass online. Association members, unable to attend this year also had the opportunity to watch Mass on the internet, courtesy of ChurchTV.ie>manorhamilton

Our 2026 Mass has been arranged for Boyle next November, and our next major outing should be the Annual General Meeting and Social to be held in Ballaghaderreen in March 2026. The Association wishes to thank sincerely all who arranged and attended our Mass in Manorhamilton this year, particularly Sean Keaney who did most of the arranging.



Members of the Association and friends with V Rev Fr Gilhooly PP after Mass in St Clare's Church Manorhamilton.



Manorhamilton Comrades

19th Infantry Battalion FCA Association Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine 2025


The 19th Infantry Battalion FCA Association, led by our President, Pat Conry, undertook a pilgrimage to Knock Shrine on Sunday October 12th. At the beginning of Mass in the Basilica, we were welcomed by Knock Parish Priest, V. Rev Fr Richard Gibbons, PP, himself a former member of A Coy, 18th Infantry Battalion FCA, Westport!. Around 30 members took part, and many of those attending had previously been involved when the entire 19th Battalion, then under command of Comdt Ivor O'Hanlon, carried out an official Military Pilgrimage to the Shrine in June 1977.

At that time, we were officially welcomed by the late Mgr James Horan RIP, a Guard of Honour was provided for the Bishop of Tuam, Military Honours were rendered at the Elevation of the Host and members of the Unit read the bidding prayers. Just over two years later, the Battalion, then commanded by the late Comdt Tom Joyce, was tasked with assisting in the preparations for, and security at, the Papal Visit of Pope John Paul II on Sunday September 30th, 1979.

The 19th Infantry Battalion FCA came into being on 1st October 1959, and our official participation in the historic 1979 Papal Visit was one of highlights of its illustrious history, and a fitting celebration of its twentieth anniversary. As it happens, the 19th Infantry Battalion FCA was disbanded exactly 26 years later on 30th September, 2005, and our Committee felt it would be appropriate to commemorate all those Officers, NCOs and Men and Women of the 19th Battalion, both PDF and FCA, who served the State loyally over the 46 years of its existence, around the twentieth anniversary of its standing down.



The beautiful Mural which forms the backdrop to the Altar in the Basilica of Our Lady Queen of Ireland, Knock Shrine.





Knock Shrine

Pictures taken on Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes May 2025



Lourdes 2025 Pat Conroy & Francie Geelan.



Lourdes 2025 Pat Conroy and Joe Cox.



Lourdes Group Photo 2025.

Pictures taken at Veterans Day in Finner Camp on 6th September 2025



Finner Camp Sept 2025 Pearse Brady, Captain Martina Nevin and Pat Conroy.



Finner Camp Sept 2025 Seamus Sharkey and Tom Cooney.



Finner Camp September 2025 Francie Geelan, Pat Conroy and Seamus Flynn.

2025 Association Committee

The details of the 2025 Committee can be viewed here.

19th Infantry Battalion FCA Association – Review of 2024 activities

The 19th Infantry Battalion FCA Association has had one of its most successful years yet !

Our AGM took place in the Four Provinces Lounge, Rathallen Cross, Boyle on Friday April 5th and was well attended. The election of Officers and Committee members resulted in some welcome new blood being added to the Committee.

The highlight of the evening was a presentation made to two of our members, John Burke and Tom Fitzgerald, to recognise their bravery when saving lives (including those of our members, current Chairman Bertie Moran and his brother Michael) from the River Shannon in Carrick-on-Shannon in 1964! John and Tom had received a National Award previously in recognition of their outstanding bravery and the Association Committee felt that the least we could do was formally acknowledge their extremely courageous feat, as very young teenagers. An excellent meal was enjoyed by all present.

The Committee held a number of meetings during the year and renewed its commitment to having such meetings in each of the former Company areas by holding one such meeting in Manorhamilton (former D Coy) and a sub-committee meeting in Carrick-on-Shannon (former B Coy). Members paraded in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Sligo and we again attended the National Day of Commemoration at SligoTown Hall which was held for the first time since the Covid lockdown. We succeeded in obtaining Leader Grant aid towards the purchase of a new laptop computer, and we are currently seeking clerical assistance to help us update our records.

The Officer Board had a very useful meeting with the new O/C 6Bn Lt.Col Mark Lennon, in our Museum on June 4th, and we have been able to use this facility as required, with permission of 6 Bn, and we must put on record our gratitude to the O/C, to our Liaison Officer, Comdt Fergal Joyce, and particularly the local PDF Cadre in Boyle Military Post for their constant co-operation. Cqms Peadar Mc Garry and Pte Padraig Sheridan have been most helpful and we send Peadar our best wishes on his Lebanon Tour of Duty and welcome his replacement Sgt Ciaran Mc Mahon. Our Annual Tour this year again visited Kilkenny (with a short courtesy call on Kilbeggan Distillery en route) and was most successful. We are now finalising our plans to join the Defence Forces participation in the International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes from May 15th to 20th , 2025

We attended a very successful and enjoyable Open Day in Finner Camp on August 31st, and our Chairman, Bertie Moran laid a wreath in honour of our fallen comrades in the PDF, FCA and RDF. We also participated in a commemorative Mass and Monument unveiling in Ballinamore on Monday December 16th, to honour Pte Patrick Kelly and Recruit Garda Gary Sheehan who gave their lives in Derrada Wood on December 16th 1983.

Unfortunately a number of our members and former PDF and FCA comrades passed to their eternal reward during the year, and we provided a Guard of Honour at some funerals. As usual we remembered them at our Annual Mass which was celebrated in St Nathy's Cathedral Ballaghaderreen, on Sunday November 3rd. This year, as suggested by our Committee, the Mass also included prayers for those of our members who are unwell. We were also invited to the annual Boyle area ONE Mass and some of our members were able to attend.

For a number of years our membership numbers have been falling, mainly due to natural wastage etc, but we are happy to relate an increase in paid up members as the year ends.

Veterans Day, Finner Camp - September 6th 2025

32 Members of the 19th Infantry Battalion FCA Association attended Veterans Day in Finner Camp on Saturday September 6th at the invitation of the 28th Infantry Battalion Association. All who attended were made very welcome by Lt Col J O’Shea, Officer Commanding, 28th Infantry Battalion and Finner Camp and a short ceremony commemorated those who had fallen in defence of the State in Ireland or on UN peacekeeping duty. A number of wreaths were placed at the Monument, and Chairman, Bertie Moran laid a wreath on behalf of the 19th Infantry Battalion FCA Association. Our Association wishes to thank the 28th Battalion Association for the invitation, and Lt Col O’Shea, the officers, NCOs and soldiers of the 28th Infantry Battalion for a most interesting day. We congratulate the 28th Infantry Battalion on 52 years of service and wish them every success in the years ahead.

The 19th Infantry Battalion Association was set up in 2008 to allow former members of the 19th Infantry Battalion (which operated in the Sligo/Leitrim/Roscommon area from 1959 to 2005) to keep in touch. An annual general meeting and social function is held in one of the former Company Headquarter areas, and an annual Mass for deceased members and those in ill-health. Each year a tour is organised for members, mainly to places of military interest, and 22 members of the Association joined the Irish Defence Forces contingent at the International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes last May.

In other recent years tours have been organised to Belfast, Kilkenny Castle, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Aras an Uachtarain, where the Association members were greeted by Uachtarain na h-Eireann, President Michael D Higgins, Commander-in-Chief of the Irish Defence Forces.



Pictured at the recent Veterans' Day in Finner Camp were (L-R) Tom Cooney, Seamus Flynn and David Cryan (all former members of A Coy, 19th Bn FCA, Boyle).


Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Finner Camp - October 12th 2025

The 19th Battalion was very much involved in the preparations for, and security at, the Papal Visit to Knock in September 1979 and the next major outing for the Association is a pilgrimage to Knock Shrine on Sunday October 12th next.

Those wishing to participate (including former members of 19th Battalion who have not yet joined the Association) should contact Membership Officer, Frank Geelan at 087-2234477 or online at zufrankgeelan1q example com.

Membership of the Association is not confined to those who served with the 19th Battalion – others may join as Associate Members.



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