''An Cosantóir'' (; meaning "The Defender") is the official

magazine A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...

of the

Irish Defence Forces The Defence Forces (, officially styled ) derives its origins from the Irish Volunteers. Whilst the Irish for ''Defence Forces'' is , as Ó Cearúil (1999) points out, the Defence Forces are officially styled . is used in other contexts (e.g. ...

. It was originally established in December 1940 by Colonel

Michael Joe Costello Michael Joseph Costello (4 July 1904 – 20 October 1986) was an Ireland, Irish rebel and military leader during the Irish War of Independence. Biography Michael Joseph Costello was born on 4 July 1904 in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary, son o ...

as a means of disseminating training material among the Local Security Force (LSF), the forerunner to the Army Reserve, but later became the newspaper of Costello's First Division. In its current form, ''An Cosantóir'' is a 40-page colour A4 size publication, issued 10 times per year. The magazine carries information on various elements of the Irish Defence Forces. Topics cover different aspects of military life, including training, overseas operations, new equipment, personalities, events, international military affairs, humanitarian work, unit activities, and military history. ''An Cosantóir'' is published by the Public Relations Section, Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ) with offices at Ceannt Barracks in the

Curragh Camp The Curragh Camp () is an army base and military college in The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the main training centre for the Irish Defence Forces and is home to 2,000 military personnel. History Longstanding military heritage Th ...

. It has a monthly readership of around 25,000, and up to 45,000 readers online, and is sold in approximately 200 outlets around Ireland. An Cosantóir holds an annual 10km road race event in the

Phoenix Park The Phoenix Park () is a large urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its perimeter wall encloses of recreational space. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since ...

in autumn for Permanent and

Reserve Defence Forces The Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) () are the combined Military reserve force, reserve components of the Defence Forces (Ireland), Irish Defence Forces. The RDF is organised into the First Line Reserve (FLR) and an active Second Line Reserve. Th ...

personnel, Department of Defence staff, veterans and invited guests. Back issues of ''An Cosantóir'' dating back to 1940 are available online.

References

External links

* Magazines published in Ireland 1940 establishments in Ireland Magazines established in 1940 Military of the Republic of Ireland Military magazines {{Military-mag-stub