Ex Defence Forces meeting place in North Cork town under threat - New location required

IUNVA Post 25 in Fermoy must leave its current premises by the end of August. The need for a new location was raised at a Fermoy Municipal District meeting. Aontú councillor Peter O’Donoghue proposed that Cork County Council write to the Minister for Defence Simon Harris to seek a permanent site for the association in Fermoy. He noted that councillors met members who are concerned about the association’s future. Members have been in the building for about ten years and are grateful to the owners for accommodating them. The owners now need the building for another purpose, and the association fears it could end in Fermoy. Fermoy’s long military history is tied to the office, which stores that history and supports member meetings.

"Councillors recently met with members of the United Nations Veteran Association, and they are very concerned in relation to the future of the association in Fermoy. They have been in the building for around ten years, and they are very grateful to the owners of that building for accommodating them for so long."

"The owners need that building now for another purpose and the association is looking for another building to locate the office. Their big fear is that this could be the end of United Nations Veterans Association in Fermoy."

"Fermoy has traditionally been a garrison town. In 1797 the British set up bases here. They maintained a continuous presence in the town. They created the largest military installation in the entirety of Ireland in Fermoy. There were over 10,000 troops based in Fermoy at certain times. Fitzgerald Camp housed the Defence Forces for many years."

"They use the office to store all that history. The members meet and discuss issues amongst themselves. It is imperative that we do everything we can to ensure that the association remains open in Fermoy and that we find a location a"

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