Army officer honoured

ONE of the army’s most senior officers received a salute from the Lord Mayor of Cork last night as he was accorded a civic reception in recognition of his outstanding military service.

Brigadier General Patrick Hayes, General Officer Commanding the 1st Southern Brigade, is due to retire shortly and the Lord Mayor, Cllr Brian Bermingham, led praise for the man who has been the recipient of many sporting and military accolades.

Brig Gen Hayes is a former Limerick senior hurler and winner of numerous All-Army titles in rugby, gaelic football, hurling and badminton.

He was also pretty handy with a squash racquet, winning an All-Ireland club intermediate medal and a Leinster cap.

But he was even handier with a golf club and won an All-Ireland runner-up medal while representing Cork Golf Club in the Jimmy Bruen competition.

The Lord Mayor praised the senior officer’s role in the army which has seen Brig Gen Hayes serve on overseas tours with the UN in Kosovo, Lebanon, Cambodia, Cyprus, Syria and Israel.

The Brig Gen also served as assistant Chief of Staff in communications and information systems divisions for EU military staff in Brussels.