“My association with Kildare and the Curragh started with my grandfather who served in the Curragh Camp and raised his family in married quarters like so many families of that generation,” said Michael Smyth, Deputy CEO of ONE

By Finian Coghlan / Kildare Nationalist 

Kildare’s rich military tradition continues into retirement with the news that Curragh native Michael Smyth (55) has just been appointed Deputy CEO of the Oglaigh Náisiunta na hEireann (ONE) the principal veteran’s group in the country.

Indeed, his appointment doubles the county’s representation on the ONE high table as their CEO is Naas man Cormac Kirwan, but it was with Michael Smyth that The Nationalist got to talk to this week to mark his appointment, and the enormity of the task with over 140,000 retired servicemen in the country.

“The best advice I got was to approach it the army way – crawl, then walk, then run,” smiled Michael, who is only new to veteran status having retired from the Defence Forces last year after completing 34-years-service. Born and raised in the Curragh camp”, he was influenced by his grandfather and father to join, and his wife, brothers and extended family have also served and some continue to do so.

“My association with Kildare and the Curragh started with my grandfather who served in the Curragh Camp and raised his family in married quarters like so many families of that generation,” said Michael.

“My Dad, on completion of his own military training in Dublin, was sent to the Curragh where he later married and settled in the camp, so my two brothers and I grew up surrounded by and immersed in military life,” he said.

“I attended secondary school in St Joseph’s Academy in Kildare Town and joined the FCA (now the Army Reserve) in McGee Barracks when it was still located in Kildare Town. “After Joining the Permanent Defence Forces and completing basic training in 1988, at that time there was a mixture of over 30 soldiers or cadets in or just out of training who all had gone through that local reservist training route. 

I joined the 3rd Infantry Battalion at Connolly Barracks in the Curragh, and expanded my knowledge by completing foreign courses in the Infantry School, Warminster and the DNBC School at Winterbourne Gunner in the UK.

“Moving to the NCO Training Wing in the Military College was pivotal for my role in developing Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear training, along with Close Recce and Urban Operations for the Defence Forces during a security period when it was greatly needed both at home and overseas immediately post 9-11.

“I held appointments in both the Cadet School and the Chief of Staff’s branch before concluding my service with the 7th Infantry Battalion in Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines,” he said.

Aside from the training courses in the UK, Michael did three tours in Lebanon, two in Bosnia, and one each in Kosovo and Afghanistan – which leaves him highly qualified for the role in supporting ex-servicemen.

“My new role is to work alongside the Chief Executive Officer steering and delivering ONE’s daily operations and professional services and ensuring good governance is maintained throughout,” he stated.

ONE’s primary objective is to support the needs of Irish veterans by providing accommodation to homeless veterans within its Veterans’ Homes and providing other advice and supports to veterans through its nationwide network of 35 Branches and 15 Veterans’ Support Centres. ONE currently provides accommodation for approximately 51 veterans, who otherwise would be homeless, in its four residential homes in Cobh (5 bedrooms), Athlone (5), Dublin (35) and Letterkenny (6). “These Homes are currently operating at 80 per cent capacity and are expected to go above that in January due to further recent requests,” he said.

ONE has created a nationwide network of 15 Veteran’s Support Centres, which Michael describes as “a cross between Advice Centres and Men’s or Women’s Sheds”, and are staffed by volunteer members from our branches. “It is hoped that by providing early intervention, we can alleviate social stresses and significantly reduce homelessness among veterans.

The ONE currently employs four Veteran Support Officers (VSOs) to develop a counselling service for veterans in partnership with the HSE, and they hope to continue to build on the counselling service now in place by employing additional VSOs in the six new Slaintecare Regional Health Areas, and at Head Office. ONE provides training and education for branches and Veteran Support Centres in areas such as mental health first aid and provides 24/7 on-call counselling.

“If we look at how ONE is making a difference, they provide 51 beds for homeless veterans every night, which equates to 18,615 bed nights per annum,” revealed Michael. To date, we have kept over 1,000 veterans off the streets, and 90 per cent of homeless veterans moved on to permanent independent living,” he said.

“Currently in the Leinster area, ONE has 18 Branches and Veteran Support Centres, and recently added their fourth VSO to cover the area of Dublin South/Kildare/ West Wicklow,” said Michael.

“We narrowly missed out on the purchase of a premises in Newbridge recently, but are hopeful in partnership with Kildare County Council when a suitable site becomes available they will open their seventh home in Kildare, hopefully in the next year or two,” he said.

“My aspirations for the future of ONE would be to maintain its reputation and good name, and to help deliver five further homes countrywide to deliver another 29 bedrooms,” he added.

“I would encourage veterans to get involved with ONE which will strengthen the network, and I would encourage any veteran who is hesitant or struggling to contact us, he said

ONE also has a number of charitable initiatives including our Hope Couture campaign where ONE teamed up with designer Orla Langan and Droga5 (ad agency) to design three different camouflage patterns each one associated with locations where veterans were taken off the streets.

“Our ‘Sleeping Flags’ campaign took the green, white and orange tricolour and paired it with the object that universally signifies homelessness which is a sleeping bag,” he said.

“The Fuschia Appeal is a year-round appeal to raise funds to provide accommodation and other services where the main drive takes place during the month of July.

“ONE’s tag line of ‘no Irish Veteran left behind’ is aimed at encompassing all veterans both young and old regardless of the number of years of service.

“Collectively If we strive for a stronger and wider veteran network all working together continuing to provide services for the needy, keep advocating for the veteran community and remember the ones who have gone before us, will hopefully one day reach ONE’s vision of ‘making Ireland one of the best places to be a veteran,” he concluded.

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