Interesting articles

It will be interesting to see what replaces the mowag considering the tight time lines that have been put in the plan

I completely agree with this.

The likes of Custume and McKee need to be divested and turned into beautiful and modern housing and schools and what not.

A 21st century defence force, should be in 21st century barracks, with all the security, flexibility and connectivity that offers. Not 18th and 19th century quarters that are limiting in so many respects.

It looks like cathal brugha has survied to live another day.

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2024/0724/1461459-cabinet/

Let's be honest, neither Cathal Brugha nor McKee are integral to national security, considering their tasks could be performed elsewhere with proper provision, and the government isn't really serious about real national security, considering the massive gaping holes in our air, sea and cyber defences and human and electronic intelligence.

But, it is important that the DF have a base or bases in the Capital, for ceremonial and ACP tasks, as well as for historical and heritage reasons.

To my mind, the government shouldn't be spending money figuring out where in Dublin to put these 1,300 homes and the jobs and services to go with them, but where else in the Country they should go, to make a proper dent in our appalling record of sustainable regional development.

I had no massive yearn to keep Cathal Brugha, or not, but I'm glad the Tánaiste has come down on the side of shutting down one of Eamon Ryan's bonkers flights of policy. He's an appalling minister with a total lack of strategic thinking about him, and I'm glad he's in his final months as a member of the Dáil and the government.

The USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG-127) Arleigh Burke Class (Flight IIA) guided missile destroyer. Christened yesterday at Bath Iron Works, Maine.

Named for Lance Corporal Patrick Gallagher, USMC. Born Ballyhaunis, Mayo, 1944. KIA, Da Nang, Vietnam, 1967.

Corporal Gallagher was a recipient of the Navy Cross and Congressional Medal of Honour for repeated acts of outstanding courage in the field, including throwing himself on a live grenade to protect others of his unit. The weapon failed to explode and he tossed it into a lake.

Gallagher is one of the first non-Americans to receive such an honour, that of a Warship being named for him.

@Manic Moran when you were in the curragh did you do a video on the mowags or RG32?

The UK Defence Journal's twitter engagement is hilariously immature. Its like Paddy Cosgrave is managing their account.

While the topic may be valid, they really shouldn't be taken any more seriously than two quid gossip mag.

UK Defence sources trying to shape policy of the new government….

UK are in the process of doing the autumn budget… there is a lot being mentioned about potential military cuts… there are numerous military outlets doing cajoling to raise awareness on various topics at the moment… another huge area is the Navy new subs and frigates/destroyers…. along with Army numbers and pushing forward on the Challenger 3 and various autonomous systems …

the above article is just one aspect of the RAF push…. lots of mentions abut the Wedgetails, Space warfare, transport gaps (no C-130 type craft) etc…. at the moment.

edit: with the lacklustre Irish response, and the UK really concerned about the "Irish issue" (it's the American's too)… I can see something like more "overt" P-8 patrols from the American's, British, and Norwegian's as a potential option. It's pretty much in place at the moment, when required. I see a more routine and structured element happening though….

How it is done is a different matter (do they patrol from Oceanic airspace only? Does Ireland pay towards it? etc…)

Firstly, I hope the injured man will make a speedy and full recovery.

But, this is very serious for a number of reasons.

• The security protocols around DF installations
• Misinformation around the DFs role in UN mandated peacekeeping missions, especially in the Middle East
• Feeding a frenzy of far-=right narrative around the pillars of the State, immigration, housing etc etc - irrespective of there being no facts in the public domain about the background of the attacker.

Absolutely no point speculating without information.

Could be a radical, could be a drunk or a lad deep down the K hole, could be driven by mental illness, or could be none of those things.

There'll be a Court report soon enough and we'll know.