On Wednesday night, Secretary-General of @IRLDeptDefence, Jacqui McCrum, was delighted to attend the annual CDOA Education & Training Conference in Galway. She acknowledged and thanked the Civil Defence Officers and Volunteers for their sustained commitment to their communities.

The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, recently hosted the Executive Committee of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) Network at McKee Barracks, Dublin. This marked the first blended meeting of the Committee in over five years, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325. Representatives from across the globe attended, including members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Kenyan Defence Forces. As Chair of the WPS CHODs Network, Lieutenant General Mulcahy reaffirmed the Defence Forces’ commitment to advancing gender perspectives and inclusion within military operations and leadership structures. The Defence Forces also hosted a high-level event in Cathal Brugha Barracks to celebrate 25 years of UNSCR 1325. The conference brought together representatives from government, academia, civil society, and the military to discuss progress and opportunities in promoting gender equality and inclusive peacebuilding. During the event, the Chief of Staff launched the Fourth Defence Forces Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, formalising the organisation’s continued commitment to protection, prevention, and participation across all aspects of peace and security. #ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefendOurState #WomenPeaceSecurity #WPS #UNSCR1325 #IrishDefenceForces #Leadership #GenderEquality #Peacekeeping #DefenceForcesIreland

Today marks 80 years of the UN. Ireland’s @defenceforces have the longest unbroken record of overseas service with the @UN. We are incredibly proud of the role they have played in peacekeeping missions right across the world. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir. #UNDay #UN80

Click here for speech gov.ie/en/department-of-defe…

A record €1.5 billion has been allocated in Defence funding in Budget 2026. The allocation includes the highest ever level of capital funding for Defence, at €300 million next year and almost €1 billion provided out to 2028. Read more: gov.ie/en/department-of-defe… #Budget2026

The Tánaiste @SimonHarrisTD and @defenceforces Chief of Staff, Rossa Mulcahy, have welcomed the the arrival of a new Airbus C-295 aircraft delivered to the Air Corps. Read more here: gov.ie/en/department-of-defe…

#StormAmy ⚠️Orange Wind Warning for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo & Clare ⏲️Valid 14:00 to 22:00 Fri ⚠️Yellow Wind Warning for Ireland ⏲️Valid 12:00 today to 00:00 Sat ⚠️Yellow Rainfall Warning for Galway, Kerry ⏲️Valid 09:00 to 15:00 Fri ℹ️met.ie/warnings-today.html

Orange weather warnings will be in place across six western counties today and tomorrow. People in those orange areas are advised to limit travel to essential journeys and shelter in place as much as possible. #StormAmy

The Joint Committee on Defence and National Security chaired by Deputy @conwaywalsh meets for an update on Reserve Defence Forces Issues on Thursday. More info: oir.ie/1de5c63 Watch live from 9:30am: oir.ie/3d3ed0c #SeeForYourself

In the context of the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence, #EDA visited #Ireland 🇮🇪 Very good discussions on the opportunities that could exist and are available in relation to collaborative capability development, joint procurement & opportunities for R&T.🤝 #StrongerTogether

Tá d'aonad áitiúil Cosanta Sibhialta ag earcú Oibrithe Deonacha anois! Faigh oiliúint sa Chuardach agus Tarrtháil, sa Bhádóireacht, sa Fhreagairt Leighis, sa Chumarsáid, sa Lónadóireacht, agus neart eile nach iad. Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil – téigh chuig civildefence.ie/join

Today, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, presented commemorative medals to 350 Volunteers from nine counties at the event in Maynooth University. @CivilDefenceIRL @DubCityCouncil @sdublincoco @Fingalcoco @dlrcc

Learn skills, Save lives. The Civil Defence is now recruiting volunteers. Train, make lasting friendships and learn skills that save lives. Anyone over 18 can join and there's a Civil Defence Unit in every county. 👉 👉 gov.ie/en/department-of-defe…

Convoys of vehicles and robots have arrived sagely at the International Donor Coordination Cell in Poland from Defence Forces’ stock for donation to Ukraine. Read more here: gov.ie/en/department-of-defe…

On 09 September 25, the Defence Forces unveiled the new Óglaigh na hÉireann GAA jerseys in Croke Park. A symbol of our shared organisational values of community, teamwork, and pride. Defence Forces GAA President Major General Anthony McKenna was in attendance and said “I am delighted to be here today for the launch of the new Óglaigh na hÉireann Cumann Luthchleas Gael jerseys. The GAA and the Defence Forces share deeply rooted values of community, teamwork, and commitment, and we have always enjoyed a proud tradition of working closely together. These jerseys are a symbol not only of our partnership but also of the enduring spirit of service and pride that both organisations represent. I look forward to seeing them worn with the same dedication and passion that define both Óglaigh na hÉireann and Cumann Luthchleas Gael. Ag tacu agus ag eadroma ar gCluichi Naisiunta”. Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns said: "I am delighted to officially welcome members of the Defence Forces to Croke Park today in recognition of the long relationship our organisations share and the Gaelic games competitions they organise for their members. The cast of players they have invited here today to help with the unveiling of new Defence Forces GAA jerseys underlines the calibre of players involved and the high regard in which our games are held. The presence of members of the Defence Forces on the biggest days in our calendar, through the involvement of the colour parties, reminds us of the long and enduring links with Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and I hope this is something that continues for many years to come." #IrishDefenceForces #DefendOurState

It was my pleasure to address the The European House-Ambrosetti forum at Cernobbio, Italy this weekend. I was very grateful to be invited to a panel to speak on the topic of “Adapting to New Realities: The Evolution of European Defence and Security”. I was able to outline the Irish position as a neutral country, but a country in no way immune to the challenges facing global security. Looking ahead to our presidency of the Council of the European Union, I stressed that Ireland would be driving forward the agenda of the member states as an honest broker and constructive chair. The conference also gave me the opportunity to exchange with EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and the many other Commissioners and ministers present. There was a significant presence of US Senators at the event also, and it was very good to hear of the US commitment to continuing to work productively with European countries. But it was a particular personal pleasure to meet former Prime Minister Mario Monti. He was EU Competition Commissioner when I was a young competition lawyer and someone whose words we listened very carefully to back then. Thanks very much to our Consul General in Milan Maria Sheehy and the Department of Defence for preparing the visit.

For those of you who may be living in, or even visiting border counties on Sunday afternoon at 3pm📲📲

Yesterday, the UN Security Council renewed UNIFIL’s mandate until 31 December 2026 through Resolution 2790 (2025), reaffirming support for peace and stability in the region under Resolution 1701. 📄 bit.ly/47R9Ttm

The UN peacekeeping mission @UNIFIL_ which patrols the so-called Blue Line of separation between Israel and Lebanon received the unanimous support of the Security Council on Thursday to extend through 31 December next year. news.un.org/en/story/2025/08…

The Tánaiste @SimonHarrisTD is in Copenhagen today for a two-day summit of both EU Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministers.