Flag is lowered for last time on Pat Bruen’s Career.

On Sunday May 17th 2009 the flag was lowered for the final time on the career of Commandant Pat Bruen who retired as officer commanding C Coy 56 Bn Boyle after 41 years exemplary service. At a stand down parade held in the military barracks Boyle Cft. Bruen took his final parade as a commissioned officer of the Irish Defence Forces.

A large crowd of serving and former members of the Army Reserve , friends and family of Pat Bruen joined with Lt. Col Colm Harte EO 4th Western Brigade RDF ,Cft. Frank Sheerin Commanding Officer 56 Bn and members of C Coy 56Bn to salute Pat Bruen on his 41 years service to the state.

The event started with a parade and inspection of the troops by the battalion commander , followed by a march past and salute to Cft. Bruen from the troops on parade. Cft Bruen then inspected the parade, bade each of his troop’s farewell and delivered a speech recalling his years of service. Music was provided by Pte. Richard Waldron of the 1 Cn. Cois. Pipe band Renmore Barracks Galway. Following the formal occasion a presentation was made to Cft. Bruen after a reception held in King House Boyle. Among the many guests present were Seamus Flynn Boyle who is a former Company Commander of the old A Coy 19Bn and former Coy Commanders of the old 17Bn.

Cft. Bruen enlisted in the FCÁ in March 1968 at his local centre in Elphin as a member of C Coy 17 Bn. It was here that he was introduced to basic foot drill and the .303 rifle (at that time members of the FCÁ took their gun home with them). In 1970 he completed his potential NCOs course in the Curragh and was placed first on the course and was promoted to the rank of Corporal.

The early 1970’s saw the Irish defence forces under severe pressure as the border situation worsened. Soldiers serving overseas with the UN were recalled to Ireland and members of the FCÁ were called up to augment the permanent defence forces. Pat Bruen answered this call and served 4 years in the full time FCÁ in Connolly barracks in Longford. Duties included barrack guard, aid to the civil power duties such as armed checkpoints and armed patrols in the Ballyconnell and Swanlinbar districts of Co Cavan.

In 1971 Pat was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was commissioned an officer of Óglaigh na hÉireann in Nov 1976. All officers of the defence forces are commissioned by the President of Ireland and the President signs the commission however when Pat was commissioned there was no President following the resignation of Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh and the commission was signed by the Council of State.

From an early stage in his career Pat had a great interest in shooting and was a member of the 17bn team that lost the all army falling plates competition final by one plate. He trained the 17bn team who were runners up in the all army plates’ competition in 2000 and also coached the 17bn all army rifle team which won the all army shooting title in 2002.

In 1997 Pat was promoted to the rank of Commandant and served as the Coy commander of C Company 17bn Strokestown until 2005 when the reorganisation of the Army Reserve occurred . He then served a short period in Brigade HQ in Galway before his appointment as company commander C Company Boyle.