It is with deep sadness and regret that we share the passing of our dear friend and colleague Petty Officer Eddie Culshaw Ret’d on the 13th of December 2023.

The Full Sea Rolls and Thunders

The full sea rolls and thunders
In glory and in glee.
O, bury me not in the senseless earth
But in the living sea!

Ay, bury me where it surges
A thousand miles from shore
And in its brotherly unrest
I’ll range for evermore.

By William Ernest Henley

Eddie has been a resident in our Veterans Home Brú na bhFiann in Smithfield, Dublin for several years, and will be sadly missed and remembered fondly by all staff and residents – funeral arrangements will be shared ASAP.

In 2023, Eddie was crucial in sharing his story and what it was like to become a homeless veteran – here is his bio for our Hope Couture Campaign and the video he made possible – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfAbFkXD8fo

Eddie Culshaw – Veteran
As a child, Eddie Culshaw always had a desire for a life on the water. In 1979, he joined the Naval Service in Haulbowline and throughout the next 25 years, served his time on several
Naval ships. He then transferred to the Naval Service Reserve (NSR) where he spent another 18 years, totalling 43 years of service in the Irish Defence Forces.
In the Navy, Eddie was a Petty Officer (PO), which is a non-commissioned officer (NCO). On the ship, he was a Bosun and was responsible for the rigging, anchors, and other items used to keep a ship running well, while also issuing orders to the deck crew. When he transferred to the NSR, Eddie kept his rank and position as bosun and still sailed on patrols with full-time colleagues.
Like many personnel who serve for most of their life, Eddie was initially worried about leaving the Defence Forces. For so long, he had relied on the systems and routines within the Naval Service, and he believed it would be hard to make the break. However, after Eddie left the Defence Forces, his marriage sadly ended. This saw him live with another family member to whom he was grateful for their assistance. For a period, he even lived in a shed in their back garden. He later moved into ONE’s home Brú na bhFiann (Home of the Brave) in Smithfield, Dublin, and is hugely appreciative of the help and support he has received.

Rest in Peace Eddie