Our President - Col. Declan O'Carroll
The 36th President of the County Donegal Historical Society is Col. Declan O'Carroll, a native of Bundoran who now, resides in Letterkenny. He served in the Defence Forces for 42 years before retiring in 2005 in the rank of Colonel.
Declan joined the Army as a Cadet in 1963 and was commissioned into the 6 Inf Bn in Custume Barracks, Athlone in 1965. He was posted to Donegal at the outbreak of the conflict in Northern Ireland in 1969 and served in a variety of appointments with the 24 Inf Bn FCA and the 28 Inf Bn within the county. He later had the honour and distinction of commanding both battalions.
Declan moved to Defence Forces HQ., in Dublin when he was promoted to Lt. Col and was appointed Director of Public Relations for the Defence Forces. In 1998 he returned to Donegal as Officer Commanding 28 Inf Bn in Finner Camp until 2001.
During his career he served with the United Nations in Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Syria on the Golan Heights and finally in Croatia in 1996.
On promotion to Col. in 2001 Declan became Director of Administration in Defence Forces HQ., Dublin. Following a year in that appointment he finished his military career in as head of the Irish Military Office on the Partnership for Peace programme at NATO HQ.in Brussels for over three years from 2002-2005.
Col. O'Carroll played Gaelic football for Donegal (1961-1974) and was a member of the first Donegal team to win an Ulster Championship in 1972. He is the holder of two Railway Cup medals with Ulster.
An enthusiastic local historian, our President has written and published histories of Finner Camp Ballyshannon, Rockhill Ho. Letterkenny, Fort Dunree, the Battle of Scarrifollis 1650 and a biography of Lt Col James McMonagle as well as being a regular contributor on historical matters to the DHS Annual and the Letterkenny Community Christmas annual.
He is married to Eleanor with three adult children Emma, John and David.