Major-General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

David Nial Creagh, The O'Morchoe, (17 May 1928 – 22 November 2019), also known as David O'Morchoe, was a

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gur ...

officer. The O'Morchoe was a President of the

Royal British Legion The Royal British Legion (RBL), formerly the British Legion, is a British charity providing financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans of the British Armed Forces, their families and dependants, as well as all others in n ...

branch in the Republic of Ireland, and also President of the

Leinster Regiment The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 100th (Prince of Wales's Royal Canadian) Regiment of Foot and the 109th Regiment of F ...

historical association and President of the Tipperary Remembrance Trust. 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 Kings or King's may refer to: *Monarchs: The sovereign heads of states and/or nations, with the male being kings *One of several works known as the "Book of Kings": **The Books of Kings part of the Bible, divided into two parts **The ''Shahnameh' ...

Early life

David Nial Creagh O'Morchoe was the son of Nial Creagh O'Morchoe (d. 1970), an

Indian Army The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four ...

officer who had succeeded his brother Arthur (a County Wexford farmer, formerly of the

Colonial Service The Colonial Service, also known as His/Her Majesty's Colonial Service and replaced in 1954 by Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service (HMOCS), was the British government service that administered most of Britain's overseas possessions, under the aut ...

) as The O'Morchoe.

Military career

O'Morchoe joined the

in 1946 and was commissioned from

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS or RMA Sandhurst), commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is one of several military academy, military academies of the United Kingdom and is the British Army's initial Commissioned officer, officer train ...

as an officer in Royal Irish Fusiliers. He was appointed a

Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a care ...

in the 1979 Birthday Honours, and retired with the rank of

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

later the same year.

Ó Murchadha clan chief and later life

O'Morchoe was a prominent figure, who represented

The Royal British Legion The Royal British Legion (RBL), formerly the British Legion, is a British charity providing financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans of the British Armed Forces, their families and dependants, as well as all others in n ...

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 Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...

. O'Morchoe was appointed a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

in the Diplomatic Service and Overseas List of the

2007 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 2007 were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebrati ...

"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.

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.

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

International Association of Amateur Heralds website

BBC coverage of CBE award
* Tipperary Remembrance Trus
Home - Tipperary Remembrance Trust
{{DEFAULTSORT:Omorchoe, David 1928 births 2019 deaths Military personnel from Dublin (city) 20th-century Irish people 21st-century Irish people People from County Dublin Companions of the Order of the Bath Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Royal Irish Fusiliers officers Royal Irish Rangers officers British Army generals People educated at St Columba's College, Dublin Recipients of the Order of Saint Lazarus (statuted 1910)