General Officer Commanding, Defence Forces Training Centre

Brigadier General Seamus O Giollain

Military Experience

Brig Gen O Giollain has served in the full range of unit appointments as a Lt and Capt with the 12 Inf Bn.  On promotion to the rank of Commandant he was posted as a Company Commander with the 5 Inf Bn.  He has filled a number of subsequent appointments in Command Operations, Defence Forces HQ Personnel branch and in Military Education as a member of staff of the Command and Staff School.  On promotion to Lt Col he was appointed as Officer Commanding the Cadet School in the Military College. Following a period in Operations Section at Defence Forces HQ he was promoted to Colonel in 2006 and appointed as 2I/C 4 W BDE. He was subsequently appointed Director of Operations at Defence Forces Headquarters in 2008. Promoted Brig Gen in 2012, he is currently General Officer Commanding Defence Forces Training Centre.

Overseas Experience

Brig Gen O Giollain has served three tours of duty in Lebanon with UNIFIL as a Pl Commander, Coy 2I/C and Company Commander.  In 1992/3 he served with UNTSO in South Lebanon as a UN Military Observer Team Leader and in Syria as Operations Officer on the Golan. In 2000/1 he served with EUMM in Kosovo as Head of the Kosovo Regional Office.  In 2005 he returned to Kosovo as COS HQ MNB Centre with KFOR.  Between 2007 and 2009 he served in the EU OHQ in Paris in CJ5 (Plans) with responsibility for the EUFOR Tchad/RCA mission.

Education

Brig Gen O Giollain is a graduate of the Defence Forces Military College where he has completed a range of career courses including the Senior Command and Staff Course.  He has studied at the National University of Ireland in Galway graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  He also graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a Masters degree in Philosophy (International Politics, Politics of Development and UN Peacekeeping).  He has undertaken studies in Strategic Leadership at PhD (Level 10).

Interests

Brig Gen O Giollain has a keen interest in history and the Irish language.  For leisure he is enjoys sailing, golf and hill walking.

 

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