There was a Military funeral in Mountcollins in December 1995. Sergeant Con Lenihan was laid to rest. A lone bugle played the Last Post as his coffin was lowered into the grave where his brother was buried.
Con was born in Caherlevoy, in 1919. He joined the Army when he was just a teenager, and he devoted his whole life to his army career.
Of course he had a strong military background - his father, Dave Lenihan, was a highly respected member of the old I.R.A. and leader of the L.D.F. He too had a military funeral. Con's three brothers were also military men, the eldest, Danny, fought in World War Two and was also a Sergeant and was commissioned by King George for "Distinguished Service" when he was in North Africa. Con's second brother, Dave, was with the Military Police, and his youngest brother, Aeneas, joined the R.A.F.
Con spent forty-four years of his life in the army, never married, but he loved children. He did some overseas service in the Congo during the sixties.
The Army Chaplain who spoke at his funeral said that Con would be remembered for his disciplined routine, rigid timekeeping and upright bearing, and also for his love of Irish music. He died as he lived, quietly and without fuss. His coffin was draped in the tricolour and shouldered from the Church by uniformed Army personnel and the Last Post was played at his graveside. Many of his family and friends attended the large funeral.
Con is survived by his sister Brede, and his brother Danny.

Rest in Peace Sergeant Con Lenihan.
Norma Ní hÉilí
Mountcollins
June 1996