Luke Foley

[RACO @RACO_DF]

Congratulations to all officers and staff of the @defenceforces Equitation School who celebrate their centenary today. The occasion was marked by a visit from Minister for Defence @HMcEntee.

@ArmyEquitation
@ShowjumpingIrl

🐎 🇮🇪 🐴

[The Bridge 1859 @TheBridge1859]

ROAD TO BILBAO…
It’s time for #MatchDaySorted 🥳
📷 Follow & RT for a chance to win:
2x Tickets to Leinster v Toulon match on May 2nd in AVIVA
4x Pints of @Heineken_IE
2x Match Day Burger

Winner announced on Thursday , April 30th!

[Óglaigh na hÉireann @defenceforces]

PUBLIC NOTICE: Today, there will be a convoy of MOWAG Armoured Personnel Carriers travelling from Cork City to the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare.

We can confirm that this convoy is the 128th Infantry Battalion conducting mission readiness exercises ahead of deployment to UNIFIL next month.

Mission Readiness Exercises are critical activities to train and prepare our personnel for conducting duties in Southern Lebanon.

[Martin Ryan @Mairtin_81]

Táim thar a bheith bródúil ag déanamh ionadaíochta do bhaill @RACO_DF ag Searmanas Cuimhneacháin Éirí Amach na Cásca 1916.

[1 Brigade 🇮🇪 Defence Forces @1Bde_Official]

https://t.co/OM6Vng7p0Q

[RACO @RACO_DF]

There’s an urgent need to review Cadet Pay.
The cadets performing ceremonial duty for the State on Easter Sunday spend almost 2 years on far less than the minimum wage.
This is not just a matter of fairness; it’s a major barrier to recruitment & retention.

@HMcEntee ⁦@DF_COS

[Conor Harris @Conor_Harris_]

If you have lateral pelvic tilt or uneven hips, it’s not just a muscular imbalance.

Trying to fix “weak” and/or “overactive” muscles will only be addressing the symptom, not the root cause.

Here’s what you need to know 👇

[Óglaigh na hÉireann @defenceforces]

Oglaigh na hÉireann can confirm that Defence Forces personnel in missions across the Middle East, UNDOF, UNIFIL and UNTSO, are well and accounted for. We are continuing to monitor the situation across the region and our personnel remain committed to completing their mandated tasks.

[Tony Geraghty (Former Navy Commander) @TonyG_NS]

Recruitment fills the ranks; retention sustains the force delivering capability and providing a deterrent. Ireland’s defence depends on understanding the difference.

Link to my article in todays @irishexaminer below.

https://t.co/dY9DfPwFgJ

[RACO @RACO_DF]

Great to welcome Deputy @CathCallaghanTD, member of the Oireachtas Committee on Defence & National Security to RACO.

Lots discussed, including:

💶Low Cadet Pay (below min. wage)
✍️Pension Review
⏰Delays to CODF Implementation
🇻🇦DF Chaplain Representation

@IRLDeptDefence

[RACO @RACO_DF]

Good to see Minister for Defence @HMcEntee pledging to support @defenceforces Cadets in every way that she can during her tenure. Hopefully that starts with addressing low cadet pay, which is well below minimum wage and a significant barrier to recruitment.
@IRLDeptDefence

1/3

[Óglaigh na hÉireann @defenceforces]

Last week, Óglaigh na hÉireann as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) Partnership for Peace program, took part in NATO’s Cyber Coalition 25 (CC25), alongside the National Cyber Security Centre and cyber subject matter experts from industry and academia. Recognised as the world’s largest cyber defence exercise, CC25 brought together NATO Allies and partner nations to strengthen resilience and collective defence in cyberspace.

The exercise focused on enhancing situational awareness, sharing cyber intelligence, and managing complex cyber incidents affecting critical networks and infrastructure, while also identifying capability gaps and strengthening procedures, education and training in support of future cyber operations. #DefendOurState #ÓglaighnahÉireann #IrishDefenceForces

[Óglaigh na hÉireann @defenceforces]

No more video calls home. Today, the 126 Infantry Battalion arrived home to @DublinAirport and were met by family and friends after a 6 month deployment in UNIFIL.

Welcome home to all!

#ÓglaighnahÉireann #DefendOurState #IrishDefenceForces

[RACO @RACO_DF]

The financial strain of living on cadet pay makes the DF less attractive, limiting the pool of candidates. This is not just about fairness; it’s essential to attract & retain talented personnel.
We call on @IRLDeptDefence & @SimonHarrisTD to act now to address this issue. 2/2

[RACO @RACO_DF]

🙏@CathCallaghanTD for highlighting this inequality. Cadet pay remains the lowest in @defenceforces. Within the 1st year, a cadet over 40% less than their enlisted counterpart, highlighting the significant early pay gap. Low cadet wages presents a serious recruitment barrier. 1/2

[RACO @RACO_DF]

GRA, RACO and Women's Aid call for end to sale of location data https://t.co/EayVrrL2E8 via @rte
We call on the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to immediately review this matter with his officials, both from a legislation enforcement and operational force protection viewpoint.

[RACO @RACO_DF]

📢
RACO welcomes the new Professional Instructor Payment for qualified Officer instructors, introduced by Tánaiste @SimonHarrisTD on 05 May 2025.

It’s a further essential measure to incentivise & reward instruction, and boost recruitment & retention in the @defenceforces. 1/2

[Martin Ryan @Mairtin_81]

https://t.co/jVBlTFYqsW
Disappointing that @MichealMartinTD resorts to blame game politics instead of taking some responsibility as previous minister. Accountability of employer @IRLDeptDefence responsible for policy is of course absent. Waiting for failure to act a policy?

[Óglaigh na hÉireann @defenceforces]

Since the Irish Defence Forces' deployment to Lebanon with UNOGIL in 1958, there have always been Irish boots on the ground, in the service of peace. Today, the 29th of May, we commemorate this on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

Ireland proudly holds the record for the longest, unbroken service with the United Nations.

[Dublin Airport @DublinAirport]

After six months on deployment in Lebanon, 170 Irish troops touched down at T1 Dublin Airport today.

Families waited with open arms and full hearts, a reunion worth every second.

❤️ Welcome home ❤️