Book on north Meath FCA to be launched this week

Being launched this week in Kells is 'Faithful To Ireland', a book by Tony Brady that tells the story of the north Meath reservist soldier since the establishment of the Irish Volunteers in 1913. The book describes the effect the 1916 Rising had on the area, followed by the War of Independence and the bitter divisions left by the Civil War. Kells unit of the Volunteer Force in 1934 became the first properly organised reserve until they were called up on full-time service during The Emergency. The Local Security Force and Local Defence Force served north Meath well from 1940 until the establishment in 1946 of the North Meath Battalion, An Forsa Cosanta Áitiul (FCA). The battalion was reconstituted as E Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, in 1959 and remained in place until 2005 when C Company, 65th Reserve Infantry Battalion, succeeded it. Based on unit records, newspaper reports, letters, articles and interviews, this book accounts for the story of the thousands who have served in those various units over the last 90 years. Kells native, Captain Tony Brady, enlisted in E Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, in 1987 and quickly rose through the ranks. He was commissioned an officer in 1995 and is now second-in-command of C Company, 65 Reserve Infantry Battalion. C Company, 65 Reserve Infantry Battalion, is based in the north Meath area, principally around the towns of Athboy, Oldcastle and Kells with its headquarters located in the latter town. The unit was established in October 2005 when the FCA was stood down and replaced by the Army Reserve. The launch of 'Faithful To Ireland' is scheduled to take place in the GAA Centre, Kells, this Friday 20th November at 8pm.