Dermot Earley
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Lt General Dermot Earley (born 1948), the current Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, was named on the 3rd April 2007 by the Irish Government to succeed in June 2007 as the new Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces.
Lieutenant General Dermot Earley succeeded Lieutenant General Jim Sreenan, who retired in June, 2007. He is also a former Gaelic footballer with Roscommon.
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[edit] Early life
Dermot Earley was born in 1948. He was educated at St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon. He later obtained a specialist diploma in physical education at St. Mary's College Twickenham in 1971. He joined the defence forces as a cadet in 1965 and was commissioned in 1967. His first posting was as a platoon commander in the Recruit Training Depot at the Curragh. In 1969 he was appointed an Instructor at the Army School of Physical Culture (ASPC).
[edit] Football career
Dermot Earley is often regarded as one of the best footballers never to win an All-Ireland. In 1966 he played for Roscommon at minor, under-21, junior and senior levels – a notable feat for most if achieved even at club level. A key part of the Roscommon team at the end of the 1970s, he was unlucky to have reached his peak at the same time as the unparalleled Kerry team of the same period. He did play in an All-Ireland Final in 1980 but the Kingdom men were just too good for Roscommon on that day. In spite of this Earley still claimed 5 Connacht Championship medals in 1972, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980. Earley also spent a period as manager of the Kildare footballers – his adopted county – a county with which son and exact namesake played with distinction.
[edit] Army career
Early's service record includes overseas service with UNTSO in 1975, Adjutant to the 52nd Infantry Battalion UNIFIL, Military Advisor to the Secretary General to the United Nations, New York, 1987-1991 and Battalion Commander of the 81st Infantry Battalion UNIFIL in 1997. He is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies, London (2001) and holds a Master of Arts (Hons) in peace and development studies from the University of Limerick (1999). He undertook the Ranger Course in the Defence Forces, which led to the establishment of special operations training and the establishment of the Army Ranger Wing (ARW).
Earley was appointed School Commandant of the ASPC. In 1991 he was appointed an instructor at the Command and Staff School of the Military College and in 1994/95 he helped establish the United Nations Training School Ireland (UNTSI) in the Military College.
He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1995. He commanded the 27 Infantry Battalion on the Irish border. He was promoted to Colonel in 2001. In December 2003 he was made Brigadier General and was appopinted Major General in March 2004 when he received his current appointment. He replaced Lieutenant General James Sreenan.
Earley is married with six children. They live in Kildare.
[edit] Bibliography
- Brady, Tom (2007). "Army's Football Star Dermot Earley Shoots to the Top." Irish Independent. April 4.
- Ire, Ed (2007). "GAA hero named Defence Forces chief." Daily Mail. April 4.
- Lally, Conor (2007). "Maj Gen Earley appointed as chief of staff of Defence Forces." Irish Times. April 4.
