Letterkenny home helping ex- Soldiers navigate life after leaving the military

A charity set up to support military veterans is celebrating its 70th Anniversary.

The Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel – Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE) – was founded in 1951 to assist members of the Defence Forces in the aftermath of the Emergency.

Since then, it has grown to 37 branches with 1,000 members and over 2,000 subscribers who donate annually.

ONE operates three homes for veterans – one in Letterkenny and two others in Dublin and Athlone.  A fourth unit is under construction in Cobh and a fifth house is planned for Cork City, leading to a total of 60 single bedrooms nationwide for homeless veterans.

The focus of ONE is centred on supporting former soldiers, providing comradeship, advocating on their behalf and finally remembrance.

Charged with overseeing that support in Donegal is Aidan Redican, manager of Beechwood House, Letterkenny’s ONE hostel.  Aidan served with the Army for 28 years before retiring in 2009.

Donegal News, Thursday, April 29th, 2021