Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen - Formation and Name

Formation and Name

The initial name for the organisation was the "Irish Ex-Servicemen’s Organisation". This was soon converted to the Irish "Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann". The new organisation adopted an emblem resembling the cap badge of the Free State Army and incorporated the number 1 into its design signifying the amalgamation of the different groups. Since this time the Organisation has been known as the O.N.E. and ONE forms part of the Organisation's emblem to this date. The first President of the Organisation was Major General Hugo McNeill and the vice Presidents were Senator Victor Carton PC, Lieutenant Colonel Fred O’Connor, Mr. Eoin O’Riain B.L. and Mr. Thomas Holt. Major Patrick J McDonagh was Chairman of the National Executive Committee and Commandant Peter Duffy was the Honorary National Secretary.

The organisation has been organised democratically since its inception and has held annual conventions from 1950 to 1999 to elect its National Executive Committee. From June 2000 onwards the organisation became a limited company with charitable status under the Companies Act 1963 following a special resolution placed before its members at an Extraordinary General Meeting held in Cobh, County Cork under the chairmanship of Mr Jack Gilmartin, a native of Dublin who lives in Cobh.

The newly formed Company assumed ‘Teoranta’ meaning ‘Limited’ in Gaelic into its name and is now known as O.N.E.T. The newly formed company adopted a Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association (M&As) which govern how the company interacts with people, government agencies, etc. as well as setting out regulations governing the relationships between the shareholders and directors of the company. The company has no share capital but has limited liability. ONET's 'Handbook of Rules', which sets out membership criteria etc. remains intact but is subservient to the M&As.