Private Issue Medals

A private issue medal is a medal made to commemorate a Defence Forces or Reserve Forces event or anniversary. Private issue medals are not issued or sanctioned by military or Reserve Forces and are not worn on the uniform although some medals are designed and manufactured by serving or ex-service personnel.

This is probably the best know Private Issue medal and was struck to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the FCA. The medal was designed by ex-FCA NCO, Frank Lane. The were two designs, the image on the right shows the front of the medal.

The image on the left shows the back of the FCA issue.

The image on the right shows the Naval Reserve design.

On the first of October 2005 An Foras Cosanta (F.C.A.) Aituil and An Slua Muiri (S.M.) were stood down at a parade in Sarsfield Barracks Limerick. There was no official medal struck to mark the occasion but Frank Lane designed and had struck a commemorative medal to mark this historic occasion.
Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor

The medal is made of Nickel-Silver. The front of the medal depicts the Irish Defence Forces cap badge surrounded by a Shamrock Wreath and the four crests of the four army commands and the crest of An Slua Muiri.
Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor

The back of the medal is inscribed in raised letters The Standdown of An Foras Cosanta Aituil and An Slua Muiri 2005.
The medal is made by MMI (Dublin).
Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor

To mark the Millennium in 2000 Frank Lane designed and had struck a medal. The front of the medal shows an outline of Ireland with 2000 in raised letters on a background of eight Saint Brendan’s Knots.
Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor

The medal was produced with two different designs on the back. One design was for An Foras Cosanta Aituil. The design of this medal depicts the words An Foras Cosanta Aituil surrounding a blank centre.
Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor

The design on the back of the other medal depicts the crest of An Slua Muiri. The ribbon is the same for both designs being red and gold. The red represents a thousand years of war and disease with the gold representing hope for the future and a thousand years of peace and enlightenment.
The medal was manufactured by MMI (Dublin).
Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor

This is probably the best know Private Issue medal and was struck to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the FCA. The medal was designed by ex-FCA NCO, Frank Lane. The were two designs, the image on the right shows the front of the medal.

The image on the left shows the back of the FCA issue.

The image on the right shows the Naval Reserve design.

The medal is made of Nickel-Silver. The front of the medal depicts the Irish Defence Forces cap badge surrounded by a Shamrock Wreath and the four crests of the four army commands and the crest of An Slua Muiri. Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor

The back of the medal is inscribed in raised letters The Standdown of An Foras Cosanta Aituil and An Slua Muiri 2005. The medal is made by MMI (Dublin).

To mark the Millennium in 2000 Frank Lane designed and had struck a medal. The front of the medal shows an outline of Ireland with 2000 in raised letters on a background of eight Saint Brendan’s Knots. Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor

The medal was produced with two different designs on the back. One design was for An Foras Cosanta Aituil. The design of this medal depicts the words An Foras Cosanta Aituil surrounding a blank centre. Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor

The medal is made of Nickel-Silver. The front of the medal depicts the Irish Defence Forces cap badge surrounded by a Shamrock Wreath and the four crests of the four army commands and the crest of An Slua Muiri.
Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor

The back of the medal is inscribed in raised letters The Standdown of An Foras Cosanta Aituil and An Slua Muiri 2005.
The medal is made by MMI (Dublin).
Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor

To mark the Millennium in 2000 Frank Lane designed and had struck a medal. The front of the medal shows an outline of Ireland with 2000 in raised letters on a background of eight Saint Brendan’s Knots.
Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor

The medal was produced with two different designs on the back. One design was for An Foras Cosanta Aituil. The design of this medal depicts the words An Foras Cosanta Aituil surrounding a blank centre.
Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor