David O'Morchoe

{{Infobox military person

|name= David Nial Creagh, The O'Morchoe

|image=

|image_size=

|alt=

|caption=

|nickname=

|birth_date= {{birth date|1928|05|11|df=yes}}

|birth_place= Dublin, Ireland

|death_date= {{death date and age|2019|11|22|1928|05|11|df=yes}}

|death_place= Gorey, Ireland

|placeofburial=

|allegiance= United Kingdom

|branch= British Army

|serviceyears= 1946–1979

|rank= Major-General

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|commands= Royal Army of Oman
3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Rangers
1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers

|battles= Mau Mau Uprising
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

|awards= Companion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Knight of the Order of Saint Lazarus

|relations=

|laterwork=

}}

Major-General David Nial Creagh, The O'Morchoe, {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|CB|CBE}} (17 May 1928 – 22 November 2019), also known as David O'Morchoe, was a British Army officer. The O'Morchoe was a President of the Royal British Legion branch in the Republic of Ireland,{{Cite web|url=http://republic-of-ireland.britishlegion.org.uk/index.cfm?asset_id=1373|title=Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland|access-date=9 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304152011/http://republic-of-ireland.britishlegion.org.uk/index.cfm?asset_id=1373|archive-date=4 March 2011|url-status=dead}} and also President of the Leinster Regiment historical association{{Cite web |url=http://www.leinster-regiment-association.org.uk/admin/news.htm |title=Leinster Regiment Association |access-date=27 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128060154/http://www.leinster-regiment-association.org.uk/admin/news.htm |archive-date=28 January 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/on-tour-with-the-royal-british-legion-as-they-bus-to-see-the-queen-1.1844007|title=On tour with the Royal British Legion as they bus to see the queen|first=Anne Marie|last=Hourihane|newspaper=The Irish Times}} and President of the Tipperary Remembrance Trust.[http://rememberthem.ie/members/ Remember them] He was the hereditary Chief and Prince of the Ó Murchadha (Murphy/Morrow) Sept, a cadet line of the ancient Irish dynasty the Uí Cheinnselaig, who were Kings of Leinster.

Early life

David Nial Creagh O'Morchoe was the son of Nial Creagh O'Morchoe (d. 1970), an Indian Army officer who had succeeded his brother Arthur (a County Wexford farmer, formerly of the Colonial Service) as The O'Morchoe.

Military career

O'Morchoe joined the British Army in 1946 and was commissioned from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an officer in Royal Irish Fusiliers. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1979 Birthday Honours, and retired with the rank of major general later the same year.

Ó Murchadha clan chief and later life

File:Murphy (Ó Murchadh).png

O'Morchoe was a prominent figure, who represented The Royal British Legion at the Irish National Day of Commemoration ceremonies held annually in the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham to honour Irish men and women who died in past wars or in service with the United Nations. From 6 to 11 June 2007, The O'Morchoe represented the Association during the commemoration ceremonies in Belgium.

O'Morchoe was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Diplomatic Service and Overseas List of the 2007 New Year Honours "for services to British ex-servicemen and women in Ireland". In September 2010, he was invested Knight of the Order of Saint Lazarus. In September 2014 he was suspended from his position in the Royal British Legion.{{cite news|title=President of Royal British Legion in Republic suspended|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/president-of-royal-british-legion-in-republic-suspended-1.1940517|newspaper=The Irish Times|accessdate=3 October 2016}}

Personal life

O'Morchoe married Margaret Brewitt, of Cork; they had three children: Dermot (the tanist); Kevin; and Maureen.

Death

O'Morchoe died at his home in Gorey on 22 November 2019, at the age of 91. A reception service was held in Kiltennel parish church on 24 November, followed by a funeral in Christ Church, Gorey on the following day.{{cite web|title=Sadness at death of David O'Morchoe in Gorey|url=https://wexfordtoday.com/2019/11/22/sadness-at-death-of-david-omorchoe-in-gorey/|website=Wexford Today|accessdate=25 November 2019}}

References

Curley, Walter J.P., Vanishing Kingdoms: The Irish Chiefs and their Families. Dublin: Lilliput Press. 2004.
Ellis, Peter Berresford, Erin's Blood Royal: The Gaelic Noble Dynasties of Ireland. Palgrave. Revised edition, 2002.

External links

[http://excoboard.com/International_Association_Of_Amateur_Heralds/98803/1388740 International Association of Amateur Heralds website]
[https://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5023-2523179,00.html 2007 New Years Honours List]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/30_12_06_hons_dip.pdf BBC coverage of CBE award]
Tipperary Remembrance Trust [https://web.archive.org/web/20160110032729/http://rememberthem.ie/ Home - Tipperary Remembrance Trust]

Category:1928 births

Category:2019 deaths

Category:20th-century British Army personnel

Category:Military personnel from Dublin (city)

Category:20th-century Irish people

Category:21st-century Irish people

Category:Irish chiefs of the name

Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath

Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Royal Irish Fusiliers officers

Category:Royal Irish Rangers officers

Category:British Army major generals