AFTER 22 weeks of gruelling training, early mornings, sleepless nights and exhaustive training sessions, Seana O’Connor from Enniskillen has officially graduated as an Irish Naval Officer.
The 26-year-old Enniskillen native, grand-daughter of former civil rights activist Bernie O’Connor, has always had a passion to be involved with the Irish Defence Forces from as long as she remembers.
“I remember years ago saying that I wanted to be in the Irish Army or the Irish Navy and then as I got older I pushed it to the back of my mind. When nanny Patricia [O’Connor] passed away, I found out what incredible work she had done in her time on Earth and I knew I wanted to do good for people and have my part to play on protecting Ireland so I thought, sure what’s the worst that can happen, and I applied.”
While Seana’s grandfather Bernie is highly regarded across Fermanagh for his civil rights activism work, unbeknownst to many, Seana’s great grandfather, Richard Crosbie, was a bodyguard for Irish revolutionary Michael ‘Big Fellow’ Collins, pictured right.
That link in itself inspired Seana into a career with the Irish Defence Forces.
“I could not believe it when I found out,” she said.
“It’s an absolute honour to have that incredible history in my bloodline and I know that nanny would be very proud of where I am standing today.”
To read more on this story see this week’s Fermanagh Herald. Can’t get to the shop to collect your copy? No problem! You can download a copy straight to your device by following this link https://bit.ly/3gOl8G0
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